Commercial banks in Nigeria Thursday kicked against a bill seeking to prohibit corporate prostitution and exploitation of female employees in corporate organisations particularly in the insurance and banking sub-sectors. The banks debunked claims by a section of the public that they were running a prostitution ring in the name of employing young women to serve as marketing executives to attract deposits to the bank vaults. In separate presentations at the public hearing on a Bill for an Act to Prohibit Corporate Prostitution and Exploitation of Women and for Other Matters Connected Therewith 2009, three banks namely, Citibank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Unity Bank criticised the bill, arguing that the issue of prostitution had no place in the banking halls. They acknowledged the perception of members of the public on the issue but maintained that employers of labour, including banks reserved the rights to set targets for their employees while it is the responsibility of employees to meet those targets in line with their employment contract. The bill was sponsored by the Minority Whip of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who has vehemently argued that the banks have in recent times converted their female marketing employees to sex-slaves, setting targets in excess of N25 million worth of depositors funds for these employees per annum. In a memoranda submitted to the Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development in respect of the bill, Stanbic IBTC expressed support for any legislation that would enforce the human rights and dignity of all Nigerians irrespective of their gender, but observed that there are various factors that could influence an individuals decision to engage in illegal and immoral acts which could include but not limited to prostitution at the work place. The Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, Stanbic IBTC, Angela Omo-Dare said that at certain levels of employment, the generation of minimum revenue amounts is expected and reasonable given the level of remuneration paid to the individual employees irrespective of gender. She criticised the framers of the bill over the provision that requires the revocation of the operating licence of a corporate organisation on account of being found guilty of corporate prostitution. According to her, there are many other ills which women are exposed to at the work place that also have bearing on abuse and exploitation which may not involve prostitution. “In our opinion, the title of the bill is misleading and should be amended to reflect the true purpose, which apparently is to curtail employers from setting unfair and unrealistic monetary targets for employees. Nowhere in the bill is the issue of prostitution or exploitation of women mentioned. If the bill is designed to prevent employers from forcing their employees to commit illegal or immoral acts for the benefit of the employer, then there might be a need to re-word the Act to address this situation,” Omo-Dare said. Simon Onefutu, an Assistant General Manager with the Central Bank of Nigeria said the bill is a step in the right direction to the extent that it is directed at correcting some perceived anomalies in the banking sector. Onofutu however said the issue does not call for legislation as it could have been better handled under the purview of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation. He said both regulatory agencies overseeing the financial sector have already stepped into the matter and have set up a joint Committee for that purpose. Source: Thisdayonline.com