Nairaland Forum

In an unprecedented move, management of Zenith Bank Nigeria today 25th of July 2011, sent no less than 350 system administrators into the labor market without prior warning. The system administrators who handle the IT requirements of all zenith branches were all sacked today. In some months past, it was discovered that most of their job functions were being reassigned to Customer service officers and Head of operations, leaving the System admins with little or nothing to do. So it didn't really come as a shock to discerning minds when they were handed their sack letters today. The most pitiful part of it is that these are people who aren't full staff but were hired by an outsourcing firm called PEOPLESPLUS. Most of these sys admins have spent nothing less than 5 years in service of the bank but were today shown the way out with little more than a months salary in lieu of notice. The only IT staff in Zenith bank today are those who are in the Head office in Victoria Island. Our sources tell us that this is just the first stage in the massive retrenchment going on in zenith bank as the people who are the next target are the bulk cash counters who will soon be shown the way out with the sanusi's cashless society as an excuse.

More on this saga as it unfolds. stay tuned.

hmm

Dishing out pink slips like pure water.

How possible is this news. What has customer service got to do with IT System Admin. Instead it is supposed to be the other way round because anybody can do the work of customer service but not everybody can do the work of system admin because it is a technical work. Unless they outsourced the work to be done remotely or managed from the head office. However, some job functions serve as system/network admin, where they are separated, there must be network admins on ground to manage network issues.

its true i heard it to may god help us

Too bad

Atrocious!

Self-Employment has its Benefits and Risks no problem
If selling Recharge cards is not enough, then they have details of the Rich and Mighty in Zenith Bank, Kidnapping is quite profitable when you know who to target

This is too bad for our employers. Sacking people with little or no entitlement and NLC are just there to fight for their own salary increment.

Lol how can they have 300 System Administrators in the first place?

My friend also has a share in the letter, he was given 2 months salary. There is issue in many branches presently, many staff calling the system admins privately for IT issue assistance, most of the ehad of operations were trained for just 1 day. Zenith that boasts of people, service and technology. Customers may start puling out their fund because i foresee their downfall. Jim built the bank on people, service and technology, so as the new mgt removed technology (the most important) lets seat and watch the outcome. a words is enouggh to a wise, if u have your money tied down where you can't access it or may loose it to fraud.

If all else fails, they can cripple the network and punish Zenith. Shikena.

Haaaaaaaa!!! May God make ways o. Other streams of income may not be a bad idea after all

pynkspyce:

If all else fails, they can cripple the network and punish Zenith. Shikena.

It doesn't worth it. They should channel their efforts into starting up with some other things. I really feel for the affected persons.

which way nigerians? 300 people sacked. I hope crime would not escalete

Obiakara:

Lol how can they have 300 System Administrators in the first place?

Zenith Bank has more than 350 Branches nationwide. See the relationship?

This is the difference between an Employee of an institution and self employer.

Unbelievable! How true is this news? System Admin is not what anybody can easily do except it's been contract to other firm. I foresee this will occur, not only in the IT dept, it will occur in many departments because the rate at which Nigerian banking sector is going, everything will be done automatically via ATM/Internet etc.

GOD help us in this country, Nigerians looking unto YOU.

computer science - aka system administrators no d take LAST!

Some of you really need to brush up on your English. See how this thread is laced with grammatical errors.

adeshsam:

Unbelievable! How true is this news? System Admin is not what anybody can easily do except it's been contract to other firm. I foresee this will occur, not only in the IT dept, it will occur in many departments because the rate at which Nigerian banking sector is going, everything will be done automatically via [b]ATM/Internet [/b]etc.

GOD help us in this country, Nigerians looking unto YOU.

@ bolded has a lot to do with cashiers not system admin.

They might be streamlining their processes thus contracting the function to the highest bidder.
IT department (back office functions) all over the world are always susceptible to redundancies whenever the big oga wants a strategic change in org's direction

Too bad

This tale isn't completely true.

Yes, some people were laid off but it was due to two reasons below:

1) Actual fraudulent activities
2) Suspicion of fraud

what happened in zenithbank yesterday is true. it was really a surprise to the system administrators of the bank nationwide when some reach the office and were not allowed beyond the gate by the securities. they collected their letters, tendered their id cards and office keys and went away with a meagre amount of not morethan 2-3 months salary as entitlement.

those system admins especially those in branches are the heart of zenith bank efficiency because they are jacks of all trade, they guide all staff in every unit to do their duties as many especially the customer service unit are real dumbs.

i learnt that this morning, branches have been calling their relieved system admins to guide them with atleast the morning  routine but what do u expect the SAs to do when the bank abruptly notify them that their services are no longer required?

anyway, this is not a good sign for the future of zenith bank cos technology which the bank is always proud of is been flushed out.

@benin-man^^^^If the above is true, NO EXCUSE! You can have fraudulent people in I.T. positions, especially in  a bank!


That aside, if the bank sacks all its "branch I.T staff", it will hit its performance level very quickly!
Even "remote Admin" has its limitations (as in cases when the Network is actually down!)

if our Banks like Zenith stop wasting money on CNN ADVERT, maybe their bottom-line would suffer such stress as to warrant just throwing out staff indiscriminately!

Again, l doubt any bank can afford to throw-away its system Admins, just like that!

I hope if unfairly treated, "There wont be Vengeful pay-back"!
Some of these staff (especially if you work at H/Office) are exposed to very privileged information, in these days of "Hac.kerz"!


BTW: A good and experienced I.T. person would not find it difficult to get an even better job!
Imagine:  Good first degree + Good certifications (CCNP, MCSE, e.t.c) + Good Experience = Hot Potato!
Zenith's loss, walahi!

benin-man, if u dont know what happened, u dont have to talk. you cant just start unnecessary accusation of fraud to credible and men of integrity as system administrators of zenith bank.

The situation of employment in Nigeria is saying, 'look for what you can start on your own and not rely on someone to pay you salary'. Period.

Don't mind Zenith bank and all their effizy that doesnt hold water.

Obiakara:

Lol how can they have 300 System Administrators in the first place?

Exactly.
maybe they had 1 per branch.

silly company, jim ovia is beginnin to get on my nerves, they did same tin in visafone recently, they employ and pay u a deifferent salary from d one written in d appointment letter and employ graduates as contract staff for more than 4years.

soon na d customer servicers,

haba dis is unfair,sacking pple without gud notice is un just i tink jim ovia have some questions to ansa. abi him no get moni again.