Olubiyi
Odunaro, a 53-year-old former employee of Hallmark Bank Plc., has embarked on
hunger strike to protest against non-payment of his terminal benefit.
Odunaro, a 53-year-old former employee of Hallmark Bank Plc., has embarked on
hunger strike to protest against non-payment of his terminal benefit.
Besides, the ex-banker has turned a
garden on Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way into his new home, vowing to remain there
until he is paid his benefits.
garden on Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way into his new home, vowing to remain there
until he is paid his benefits.
Hallmark Bank was one of the banks
which did not meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapilatisation policy in 2005
resulting in its folding up.
which did not meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapilatisation policy in 2005
resulting in its folding up.
Odunaro, a senior manager of the
defunct bank, said he began the hunger strike on November 12.
defunct bank, said he began the hunger strike on November 12.
When our correspondent visited him on
Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, opposite Opebi U Turn Road junction, on Tuesday, he
was seen reading a novel ‘Long walk to freedom’ by Nelson Mandela.
He explained that he embarked on the
protest to expose the insensitivity of the Federal Government to pay the
terminal entitlements of over 14,000 employees of the 14 banks that failed to
meet up with the recapitalisation policy.
protest to expose the insensitivity of the Federal Government to pay the
terminal entitlements of over 14,000 employees of the 14 banks that failed to
meet up with the recapitalisation policy.
Odunaro said he wrote President
Goodluck Jonathan on October 24 informing him of his decision to embark on the
hunger strike if the agencies concerned did not pay them their entitlements on
or before October 31.
Goodluck Jonathan on October 24 informing him of his decision to embark on the
hunger strike if the agencies concerned did not pay them their entitlements on
or before October 31.
He said, “I feel downcast with the
turn of events in our country and I drew the passion to embark on a hunger
strike from my disenchantment to the deliberate denial of common citizens’
rights.
turn of events in our country and I drew the passion to embark on a hunger
strike from my disenchantment to the deliberate denial of common citizens’
rights.
“Before, I began this hunger strike, I
sought the consent of my family members and I also underwent a comprehensive
medical examination. I erected that tent with N27,000 and it is now my new
home.”
sought the consent of my family members and I also underwent a comprehensive
medical examination. I erected that tent with N27,000 and it is now my new
home.”
Asked if his health has not been
deteriorating, Odunaro said, “Though I take water at 8pm everyday, It’s
gradually taking a toll on me as I have started losing weight.
deteriorating, Odunaro said, “Though I take water at 8pm everyday, It’s
gradually taking a toll on me as I have started losing weight.
“My personal doctor came to examine me
on Friday and he said I am not doing bad health wise. There have been pleas
from friends and other loved ones to end this strike. But, I will continue with
the hunger strike until the FG pays us our lawful entitlements.”
on Friday and he said I am not doing bad health wise. There have been pleas
from friends and other loved ones to end this strike. But, I will continue with
the hunger strike until the FG pays us our lawful entitlements.”
He lamented that despite the laid down
procedures contained in the Guidelines and Incentives on Consolidation in the
Nigerian Banking Industry, they had not been attended to.
procedures contained in the Guidelines and Incentives on Consolidation in the
Nigerian Banking Industry, they had not been attended to.
He said, “It wasn’t our wish or our
making to be out of jobs. The CBN in its own wisdom introduced the
recapitalisation policy and afterwards withdrew the operating licence of
Hallmark Bank where I worked and 13 other banks for failing to meet up with the
recapitalisation policy deadline.
making to be out of jobs. The CBN in its own wisdom introduced the
recapitalisation policy and afterwards withdrew the operating licence of
Hallmark Bank where I worked and 13 other banks for failing to meet up with the
recapitalisation policy deadline.
“But, seven years on, the guidelines
on consolidation which make provision for our compensation in view of the
development had not been followed.”
on consolidation which make provision for our compensation in view of the
development had not been followed.”
He said despite writing several
letters of appeal as a group to the FG and other relevant agencies concerning
the issue, they had been ignored.
letters of appeal as a group to the FG and other relevant agencies concerning
the issue, they had been ignored.
He said, “On a personal note, I even
took it upon myself to get President Goodluck Jonathan informed by posting
series of comments about this issue on his Facebook page.
took it upon myself to get President Goodluck Jonathan informed by posting
series of comments about this issue on his Facebook page.
“Unfortunately, nothing has been done
and many of us live a deplorable way of life with the majority unable to meet
obligations to their children and other dependants.
and many of us live a deplorable way of life with the majority unable to meet
obligations to their children and other dependants.
“Thirty-eight people from just three
banks that I know of have died and one of the employees of Hallmark Bank
committed suicide in Aba, Abia State, as a result of his inability to eke out a
living.”
banks that I know of have died and one of the employees of Hallmark Bank
committed suicide in Aba, Abia State, as a result of his inability to eke out a
living.”
Source:
Punch
Punch
