‘Punishing economic circumstances’ — banks, insurance firms to join NLC’s two-day strike

The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) says its members will join the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in its two-day strike action.

NLC recently announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike to protest the hike in petrol pump price, electricity tariff, alongside other issues, and accused the federal government of abandoning negotiations.

The congress also said the government has failed to implement some of the resolutions reached at previous meetings.

The industrial action is scheduled to start on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

Aligning with the movement, NUBIFIE in a statement signed by Mohammed Sheikh, its general secretary, directed all members to stay off duty during the two-day strike.

This means that workers in Nigerian banks such as GTB,  Zenith Bank, Access Bank as well as insurance companies, are likely to stay off work.

“In line with the communique issued after the meeting of National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held on Thursday 31 August 2023 that all affiliates should direct all its members to commence two days’ withdrawal of services from Tuesday September 5 and Wednesday September 6, 2023,” the statement, dated September 2, 2023, reads.

“The directive is imperative to get the needed attention of the government and warn it of its new found love of meddling in the internal affairs of unions rather than address the punishing economic circumstances we find ourselves in.

“We hereby direct all our organs to comply with this directive by ensuring all our members stay off duty for the two days.

Commenting on the union’s resolve to join the strike on Tuesday, Abakpa Anthony, president NUBIFIE, said members of the bank and insurance companies were also being affected by the economic hardship.

“You know we are also part of the suffering, hence the reason why we must join the NLC in the strike, “Anthony told TheCable.

“The directive stands unless the federal government says otherwise.”