The leadership of the two main unions in the banking and other financial institutions, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) and National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), have said the indefinite strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) would have had terrible effect on the country’s economy as their sector would have shut down operations as long as the strike lasted.
National President of ASSBIFI, Olusoji Oluwole and his NUBIFIE counterpart, Comrade Anthony Abakpa, said the unions were prepared to send a statement as they duly informed all the banks and financial institutions where their members work and also issued directives to workers under their unions to strictly observe the strike by staying away from work starting from October 3 till contrary instruction was given.
They also stressed the importance of the nationwide strike and why their members across the country would have adhered to the directive given by the unions.
Comrade Abakpa said, “The strike called by NLC and TUC was a serious one and all 57 affiliates of NLC would have joined. If there were no contrary directive from the two labour centres by midnight on October 2, then all the affiliates of both NLC and TUC would have shutdown economic activities across the country, especially the banking sector unions.
“The reasons for this strike action are not farfetched. NUBIFIE has already directed members across the country to mobilise and be ready for the strike. Our members were highly mobilised, waiting for activation.
“The banking sector is very important to the country’s economy. But we do not operate in isolation. Therefore, Nigerians would have seen a total shutdown of the banking sector.
“Our union understands very well that an injury to one is an injury to all and our solidarity lies to one and other. So NLC’s directive, which we were part of the meeting that reached the conclusion for the strike, there was no reason we in the banking sector would have to circumvent or deviate.
“We were going to join because we had already informed all workers in the banking and insurance sector to stay away or sit at home so that hoodlums wouldn’t have to capitalise on the strike and then invade banks. And we duly informed the managers of the sector we operate in.”
On his part, Comrade Oluwole stated that the ASSBIFI is a member of the TUC and the directive for the indefinite strike was given by the congress. And as a member of TUC, the union was going to follow the instruction.
He said, “People who were talking about whether it is right or wrong for the indefinite strike to take place should rather have talk about the appropriate thing that should be done by government.”
“While people were saying is it wrong for strike to occur, they should have also asked if it right for government not to act based on the various engagements and various promises that have been made. We are currently in a situation where government has to show a great level of good faith. But unfortunately we all know how well government has done in that department so far.
“Labour unions are not expecting miracles to happen overnight but when you find some level of good faith and steps taken to address the issues that are on ground, then it make things much easier for everybody.”
On whether all the banks and financial institutions would have allowed their workers to comply with the strike notice, Oluwole said, “The thing about strike action is that it gets to a level where you are dealing based on individual organisations. So, while we expected compliance from all members, we also know that there may be situations where some organisations may say they are going to operate. And it is not all financial institutions that are our members. So there is a probability that we may find some organisations that will open their doors and go on with their activities.
“However, all financial organisations needed to be careful because we are not unaware of the activities of people who may want to turn the strike around and then you probably find miscreants or hoodlums who may take advantage of the situation to harass such organisations just as we had during the cash crunch crisis. When banks did not open because they don’t have cash and people went on to attack them because they did not open. So it is always better to just be safe rather than sorry.”
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