I am writing to merely state the facts of what is. Every day Nigerians
complain of how bad everything is and what should change. The rate of
unemployment is high, they say. No good jobs among other things. We all
want to succeed; true, but some of us are intent on sitting down
comfortably on the success of others.
That is exactly what Zenith Bank is doing.
Zenith
is currently the leading bank in Nigeria. Outwardly, it is viewed as a
giant but within its walls, you hear unending tales of woe. I am not
trying to sound dramatic. Do not get me wrong, please; every
organisation has its faults as well as challenges. Nevertheless, this is
one story that should be heard.
The contract staff program is one I
believe banks and other organisations are familiar with. Well, here is
how it works in Zenith Bank. Graduates are employed as contract staffs.
And by graduates I refer to BSC holders as well as HND holders. Some of
these ones have masters (MSC.) degree and some are also chartered
accountants or have other higher qualifications as well.
However, as a
result f the rate of unemployment in Nigeria, they find themselves
going into jobs like the Zenith contract. Here is the thing, as a
contract staff of Zenith Bank, you have no medical benefit or allowances
whatsoever.
Desperation is the driving factor for most accepting the
contract offer. Some have searched and searched and are fast getting
out of the age bracket for fresh graduates without experience. What
next? They jump at whatever bone is being offered.
Now to be fair,
they are being given an opportunity by zenith to have a ‘big’ name added
to their resumé. They want the experience as well and they also want to
feel as a part of something big, that feeling of making a mark.
The
contract zenith offers to fresh and ‘desperate’ graduates alike runs for
two years. Desperately, they sign, and then it all begins.
They are
expected to do everything a full staff does. It is part of the job. They
do not have to complain. They were in full control of their senses when
they signed the contract. A clear case of ‘I beg to apply’. Among the
things they get involved in is Saturday-marketing. This is especially
the case for contract staffs who find themselves in newly opened
branches. They are not expected to take part in the Saturday marketing
but are coerced into going anyway. They really do not have a say.
Another
challenge facing these ones is the class distinction in some branches.
You hear things like, ‘tell any professional staff you see there
to...’,.... Well, that is just so sad. The professional staff in
question is a Bsc holder and the contract staff may be an MSC holder.
The distinction is very clear. They swallow this because they ‘begged to
apply’.
Then comes the end of the year and what happens? Everyone is
excited about the bonus, the thirteenth month bonus that is being paid
to all staff, from the security men at the gate to the ‘oga at the top’
(in this case, the branch head).
Guess what? The contract staff
receives nothing. And he/she has worked from the start of the year till
that moment. It is all part of the ‘minuses’ even though it was not
stated in the contract.
Next comes a new year. People are jubilating,
happy because with the new year comes the ‘upfront’ or housing
allowance. Again, from the security man at the gate to.. .. well,you get
the point. Once again, Nothing for the contract staff.
After that,
the bank declares it’s profit in the new year and after all that, profit
is shared (though it has been stopped now). In this case, only the
professional staff gets something. The junior staff which includes the
security men, the note counters, etc and as usual, the contract staff
get nothing.
At this point it gets so annoying, you hear them murmur
and complain. Sometimes their branch may put stuff together and give
them from their package. As much as it is nice, it also kills the morale
of the contract staff because it is now like a privilege of sorts and
not something they have worked for in the past financial year and
deserve.
When the contract staff are finally granted leave, they
receive no allowance whatsoever. When they are at work, they work the
normal hours of 7:30am to 6pm or longer. Same as other staff. However,
with this kind of schedule, it makes it difficult for them to have time
for other matters. The contract letter says 5pm by the way. One more
thing, though location is taken into consideration most times because of
their salary, but then some of them are shuffled all over the place,
being used as relievers for others who are going on leave. The bad part
of this is that, there is no provision made for this person where
transportation is concerned. If the person’s daily transport cost is two
hundred naira (N200) due to proximity of office to home, and he or she
is transferred to a place so far that transportation cost triples,
he/she is expected to cover it with the same salary. Sometimes this
relieve assignment can last for up to a month or more.
Slavery is what this is called.
They
are not giving the time to do anything nor the compensation for the
time put in. There is no time to apply elsewhere or even when you have
applied, there is no time to go for interviews, tests, etc. What do they
do? They sit and wait for the contract to expire.
Some are fearful
as they have crossed the employment bracket for people with little
experience. Some are shouldering the responsibilities of the family with
the meagre salary they earn. Yes, meagre for a degree holder. Some
watch in pain and envy as their mates seem to get other offers while
they are stuck in a rut.
People went to school, spent four years or
more. Some read banking and finance, eager to work in a bank. Some have
dreamt of being bankers for as long as they can remember, only to be
faced with this.
At a time zenith converted some staff, and left the
majority. They converted just few along with some who knew ‘people in
high places’, leaving the larger mass of the contract staff hopeful and
expectant. The funny thing is that most of them in Lagos did the
conversion interviews together.
Well, right now they are handing out
contract renewal letters after two years. The letter includes a yearly
renewal provision that if translated means , “you might as well get
comfortable here because you are not going higher than this”.
Remember
what I sad earlier? We all want to succeed but some of us are intent on
sitting down comfortably on the success of others. That is what I
meant.
You may wonder, why not just resign? Well, there’s that. We are in Nigeria after all right? But I believe some will.
Zenith
is cutting down hard on cost all in a bid to declare more profit.
Notice how understaffed they are? They keep preaching motivation and
excellent service. They say it is in your best interest. Well, I really
do not know what to say about that. But I make this plea,
Whatever
union is out there that can put a stop to this, please, help put a stop
to it. Labour unions and others even the government can assist to make
this work conditions better for our graduates.
This is a statement of facts and a cry for help.
As you might have guessed, I am a victim myself.
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