Leading financial institution in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc has reacted a recent protest by some ex-staff of the bank.
In a statement signed by Mr. Charles Aigbe, Divisional Head, Brand & Communication of Fidelity Bank and made available to The Witness, the lender said that few disengaged drivers of their vendor companies were the masterminds of protests at some of its Lagos offices on Wednesday, and that the bank is not owing staff salaries as has been alleged by the protesters.
“Our attention has been drawn to the demonstrations at some of our business offices in Lagos.
“The actions, aimed at preventing innocent customers from carrying out their banking transactions, are the handiwork of a few disengaged drivers from one of our vendor companies. “
The statement further stressed that the drivers who were hitherto outsourced to the bank have been paid their severance packages and entitlements by their employers.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we state categorically that Fidelity Bank is not owing staff salaries, severance packages or gratuity payments as erroneously being portrayed.
“We are a responsible financial institution, operating in Nigeria and guided by the laws of the land. Whilst we are not against the right to constituted assembly, these actions are clearly unwarranted and obviously misdirected.”
Mr. Aigbe however noted that the bank is initiating legal measures to curtail the harassment.
“We are initiating legal measures to put a stop to this corporate harassment and we urge the relevant authorities, including the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to note this threat to the conduct of our legitimate business. We are initiating legal measures to put a stop to this corporate harassment and we urge the relevant authorities, including the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to note this threat to the conduct of our legitimate business.” Aigbe added.
