16 October, 2009

Reps move against corporate prostitution in banks


By Luka Binniyat

ABUJA—The House of Representatives yesterday passed into Second Reading a bill that prohibits the use of Nigerian women by banks in manners that makes them compromise to meet set targets and keep their jobs.

The bill, however, went through a heated debate before it was passed through a voice count that marginally defeated opponents of the bill.

The bill, tagged: A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Corporate Prostitution and Exploitation of Women in Corporate Organisation and Other Matters Connected therein, was sponsored by Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.

Leading the debate, Gbajabiamila said that in the quest for making huge profits, Nigerian banks put their female employees in difficult conditions that push some of them to engage in corporate prostitution, if they must meet their targets.

“We have seen where a female bank employee was given a job in January and by September was expected to meet a target of N500 million,” he said.

“It is no longer news that these women are seen everyday parading the corridors of offices knocking on doors, and once let in, some would begin to weep, begging for help to meet their target or they will get sacked,” he said

He said that many marriages and relationship have been broken as a result of this practice.

FROM