EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has ordered banks’ staff to stay off work following a series of attacks on banking staff and bank facilities in the country.
The order, contained in a notice sent to all unionised banks, was issued by the National President of ASSBIFI, Comrade Olusoji Oluwole.
The union cited the continued attacks on workers and banks’ facilities across the country as the reason for the call.
This comes after the union had earlier issued a threat to bank workers under the union to stay off duties.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Oluwole had said that the union values the lives of its members and colleagues and will not put them at any further risk.
He warned that the union will instruct bank staff to immediately stay away from their branches if the attacks on the union’s members and facilities continue until they can be guaranteed of their personal safety and the security of their workplaces by the relevant authorities.
In a memo with the reference code ‘ANS/R/JA/OP/5018’ sent to all unit presidents and secretaries on Friday, ASSBIFI stated that the National Secretariat had received reports of threats and attacks on the lives and properties of members and bank branches, and had subsequently been on the field to monitor and confirm the reports.
The memo revealed that despite warnings and appeals to the government to provide security measures for the safety of lives and properties of members within and around the bank premises, attacks have continued without any form of security for the safety of the union’s members.
The most recent being the attack on a bank branch in Epe, Lagos State on Friday, February 17, 2023.
The destroyed First Bank in Epe
The union expressed concern for the safety of its members and warned that it cannot leave the lives and properties of its members exposed to obvious danger.
Consequently, ASSBIFI directed all members to immediately stay away from work in any state where bank branches are attacked.
The union instructed that this order will continue everyday until normalcy is restored, and that further directives will be availed to members as events develop.
“We issued warnings and appeals to Govenment to provide security Measure for the Safety of Lives and Properties of our Members within and around the bank premises, but regrettably the attacks have continued without any form of security for the safety of our Members, and the recent being the attack today, Friday 17th February 2023 on one bank branch at Epe, Lagos State,” the memo reads in part.
“We cannot leave the lives and properties of our Members exposed to obvious danger.
“Consequently, all Members Should Today (yesterday) immediately Stay Away from Work in any State where bank branches are attacked. This is to continue every day until normalcy is restored.
“Please Note, you will be availed further directives as events develop.”
It is unclear whether the bank workers have complied with the directive or what impact this will have on banking services in the affected states.
However, customers may experience delays and difficulties in accessing banking services as a result of the directive.
The union’s action is a testament to the increasing insecurity in the country and the danger that bank workers face on a daily basis.
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