Fact-check: Does Polaris Bank Forbid Muslim Staff from Friday Jumuat Service?
Claim: A screenshot of an email from Polaris Bank Ltd barring Muslim staff from attending Friday’s Jumma’a service emerged on social media.
Full-Text:
The email by Damilola I. Adebara, a supervisor of Polaris bank was addressed to Muslim staffs and copied Non-Muslim officials of the bank reads: “Dear all, it has been observed that on Fridays, you leave your work desks to attend the Jumat service bearing in mind the impact of your absence on the workflow and productivity of Yes Center.
“Kindly note that there is no provision made anywhere in the Bank’s policy for employees to attend any religious activities during work hours.
“Going forward such permissions would not be granted on the Yes Center platform and any infraction of this directive would be dealt with accordingly.
“You are all expected to acknowledge the receipt of this mail. Thank you.”
Controversy: the email has generated a cross-section of reactions on social media platforms thus: a Twitter user Twitted calling on Muslims to boycott Polaris Bank. In fact, an Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) demanded an apology from Polaris Bank to Muslims or risk boycott over the memo.
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Verification: PRNigeria sought to know if Nigerian Bank policies are against religious services, it, therefore, contacted some bank managers on the matter.
Mohammed Baba Garba who works with United Bank for Africa, UBA, said that there is no policy in the banking industry that prevents staff from religious services.
“Honestly, I’ve never come across anything like that since I started working with banks fir more than a decade. No bank will stop a Muslim staff from praying but I don’t know whether Polaris Bank has developed its designated policy for its staff,” he added.
Meanwhile, another Zenith Bank Manager who asked to remain nameless told PRNigeria that Zenith Bank is committed to respecting the right of employees and does not forbid them from observing their religious services.
However, Polaris Bank has distanced itself from the email sent to the staff regarding Friday Prayer in a statement signed by the management.
The statement of the bank reads: “This is to clarify that Nigeria is a secular nation and our Bank is guided by this standard. Accordingly, no policy in the Bank forbids staff from practicing the religion of their choice; hence the said staff had acted in ignorance and we have since addressed the issue internally.
“We assure all staff, customers, and the public that we will continue to respect the fundamental rights and freedom of worship of every employee.”
Conclusion:
PRNigeria confirmed that the warning was issued in an email by a customer relations Manager of Polaris to her team members of the branch.
The email in contention could not be attributed to the entire Polaris Bank as the management officially distanced itself from the memo.
Meanwhile, the notion that Nigerian Banks do not have policy recognition for religious services has no evidence, lacks basis and is therefore MISLEADING.
By PRNigeria
