Nigerian banks have issued directives mandating workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
In circulars seen by newsmen, six financial institutions directed their workers to go for vaccination or conduct COVID-19 tests on a bi-weekly basis at personal cost.
“You are required to obtain a COVID-19 test on a bi-weekly basis and submit at their zonal offices or headquarters,” one of the circulars read.
The staff of Polaris, Access, Zenith, Union, Eco, and GT banks confirmed the latest development yesterday.
They confirmed that they were given two options; get a COVID vaccine jab or present negative coronavirus test results every two weeks.
“Those are the options. If you are not taking the vaccine, then you’ll have to show your test result every two weeks,” an Access bank staff said.
“Without this, they said a staff will not be able to enter into the banking hall.”
Another bank staff at Polaris said the options sound lenient but indirectly mandated compulsory COVID-19 vaccination.
“It is annoying that they have to mandate us. How much is our salary that someone will be conducting a COVID test every two weeks? A COVID test costs about N50,000,” she said.
Two bankers at Ecobank also confirmed the development but declined to speak further on the matter.