Dauda Asemota (real name withheld), a Union Bank employee, was among the bank’s over 100 support staff across Nigeria who were converted to full time employees on September 6, 2021.

However, this set of Union Bank staff has been on probation for 15 months as opposed to the standard six-month probation period.

Asemota told FIJ that the support staff, including him, were offered full-time employment in September, having earlier completed a conversion exercise in July.

“The bank was meant to appraise and confirm us as full-time staff members after six months, according to our offer letters,” he said.

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FIJ learnt that the probation period was supposed to end in March 2022, but the bank has failed to fulfil its agreement with them.

Asemota told FIJ, “It is the standard practice of the bank to examine each employee that has been converted from being a support staffer to a full-time employee.

“If the employee has 60 percent appraisal mark, such employee will then be confirmed.

“In my case and that of over 100 people, we have been appraised and said to have passed, but not confirmed after 15 months of conversion. The HR maintains that the CBN is responsible for the delay.”

To aggravate the situation of Asemota and others, a set of staff converted earlier this year has been fully confirmed by Union Bank.

“This is really depressing and giving us mental stress. This confirmation has raised doubts about the HR’s words,” he said.

Although this prolonged probation does not affect the salary of Asemota and others, it means the staff, by extension, are yet to be fully employed.

“Since we are not fully employed, it will affect our promotion and career progression. It is even against the bank’s standard practice and labour laws,” Asemota also noted.

FIJ contacted Olakunle Onabote, Head of Human Resources at Union Bank on Saturday, but he refused to comment on the issue.

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Onabote, however, offered to provide the contact information of an official at the corporate affairs department of the bank.

“I am not allowed to speak on behalf of the bank, so what I can do is to give you the number to the corporate affairs department of the bank. You can call her, and if she wishes to speak, that’s okay,” he said.

“Also, why have these workers not explored the whistleblowing platform, which is being managed by an external body called Deloitte, which goes straight to the board? The bank has a very fair system; that’s all I have to say.”

He, however, has not sent the official’s number. Although he claimed to have sent FIJ’s number to the bank official, no call or message had been received at press time.