Obituaries and epitaphs Allegations of malpractices and abuses have dogged recruitment processes and staff training in the Nigerian banking sector. For instance in 2011, a group of Guaranty Trust Bank’s entry level trainees were expelled on the last day of training for what the bank described as “[contravening] several basic programme rules that include professional conduct.” But several members of Sapphire, as the class was nicknamed, said the consultant instructor during the training, Tutu Sholeye of Learners and Trainers, traumatised the group with an unending string of vile comments, verbal abuse and attack on their self-esteem. They told this paper that they were asked to write their obituaries and epitaphs as part of the training regime. “We were shocked when she told us to write our obituaries and epitaphs. And it didn’t end there; whatever you wrote will be used as an excuse to rain more insults on you,” said Taye, still visibly angry two years after the experience. For instance, a trainee who smokes and had indicated to live up to 85 years in his obituary was told by the trainer: “how do you expect to live that long with the worthless life you’re living?” Learners and Trainers website says it focuses on the “attitude training and personal development” rather than focus on “skills and knowledge training.” Ms Sholeye declined to speak with PREMIUM TIMES. She said as a consultant, it was unprofessional for her to speak about what happened during the training. Peter Ogunnubi, a psychiatrist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, says this style of training is “archaic and barbaric.” “It is a form of mental torture that can lead to post-traumatic and personality disorder.” He says this is even more so because the trainees didn’t get the job. Guaranty Trust Bank says this approach to staff training has brought out the best in its employees. “The curriculum adopted for the training programme which all employees must undertake, has been in use for the same period and you will no doubt agree with me that our Bank has the finest, most professional and knowledgeable human capital in the country today,” says Pascal Or, the bank’s official in charge of Brand Management. Regulatory laxity Those wronged by unfair recruitment may have to look further from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, if they hoped to get succour for the wrong done to them. CBN Director of Corporate Communications, Ugochukwu Okoroafor, says the CBN cannot act on hearsay. “Please note that the allegations have not come to our attention with concrete evidence. This is necessary to enable us take action,” he said. “There is nothing the CBN can do on the basis of mere hearsay, other than moral suasion,” he added. Mr Okoroafor, says the CBN prohibits profit and liability targeting by banks and other unethical practices. “Unfortunately, these are not things you can pick up from financial records when conducting bank examinations. Neither can interviews with Bank Management or staff reveal them.” However Mr Okoroafor said the bank encourages whistleblowers to come with names, dates and evidence of malpractices. *** The names of the bank informants in this story have been changed to protect their identities. All of them still work with different banks in the country and fear they might be victimised by their employers.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 11:00:50 +0000
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