The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions, ASSBIFI, has said it will use all its networks and contacts to gather affiliate trade unions and Nigerian workers against Heritage Bank Plc's management due to the unprocedural dismissal of its members.

A senior bank official, who didn't want to be named, simply stated, "I don't want to talk about the issue."

However, during a briefing as part of the World Decent Work Day activities, it was recalled that since May 30, the bank had fired union members, including an official, without any benefits or clear reasons.

ASSBIFI President, Olusoji Oluwole, expressed frustration over the numerous unfair labor practices by Heritage Bank's management against Nigerian workers. He mentioned that Heritage Bank had terminated the employment of over 30 ASSBIFI members, including a Principal National Officer, in May 2023 without following due process.

ASSBIFI condemned this as a clear violation of labor laws and international agreements on employment termination, including Section 20 of the Labor Act, Cap L1, LFN 2004, the ASSBIFI Industry Wide Collective Agreement, and ILO Convention 158 on Termination of Employment, which states that employment should not be terminated without a valid reason.

This position was also affirmed by the National Industrial Court (NIC). As the statutory representative of senior employees in the Nigerian financial sector, ASSBIFI has engaged Heritage Bank's management multiple times to seek justice for the wrongly terminated Nigerian workers, in line with their policy on social dialogue.

“The Management insisted on terminating the workers based on their company policy, without negotiation or dialogue with the Union as provided by law.