Godsent Ogbebor – Abuja Correspondent
Contract staff in banks lack basic rights, Oshiomhole warns
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has raised concerns that contract workers in Nigerian banks are denied basic employment protections such as pensions, health benefits, and job security despite forming the majority of the workforce.
Oshiomhole said banks dress contract staff like permanent employees but offer none of the same protections. He noted that when such workers are removed, they are not entitled to gratuity or other benefits owing to permanent staff.
He also alleged that some banks employ contract workers through third-party agencies to reduce cost, avoiding obligations under labour regulations.
Read also: Nigeria Seeks $1.75bn World Bank Loan Despite Revenue Surge
Data from a 2023 report by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria backs his claims, showing contract workers making up around 65 per cent of bank workforce often receive significantly lower pay and few benefits.
Unions like NUBIFIE have demanded that workers on contract be made permanent after two to three years, and called for stronger enforcement of labour laws to protect the rights of bank staff.
Oshiomhole’s criticism adds to growing calls for reform in Nigeria’s financial sector, particularly around outsourcing, contract labour, and the treatment of employees without permanent status.
