Piqued by unwarranted attacks on bank workers and the destruction of several branches across States, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria,TUC, has appealed to the public to desist from attacking the workers, saying they are also victims of the cash crisis facing the nation.
The Congress made the appeal in a statement signed by its President and Secretary-General,Comrades Festus Osifo and Nuhu Toro,respectively.
It noted that the bank and financial institution employees at junior and senior staff levels, were mere workers who distibute currencies made available to the various banks by the regulatory agencies.
The statement read :”It is also understandable that in some cases,the patience of the people is worn so thin that they have resorted to protests and publicly demonstrating their feelings and frustrations.
“Our fellow compatriots should realize that Bank staff are like other Nigerians, victims of the poor implementation of the new currency design policy.
“They suffer like other Nigerians as they also have families to cater for and personal financial needs to meet.
“The TUC appeals to the Nigerian masses not be provoked, and where they choose to publicly demonstrate their feelings,which is their human right,to so peacefully”.
It assured members of the public that the TUC to which the Senior Staff of Banks,Insurance and Financial Institutions(ASSBIFI) belongs, was doing everything in its powers to find a solution to the financial crisis.
“It is also ready for peaceful solidarity actions with other Nigerians in collaboration with market associations, youth and student groups, professional associations and civil society organizations.
“We are willing to participate in exerting pressure on the various governments and financial regulators to return the country to normalcy”,it added.
The Congress,however, said it does not in any way encourage miscreants and those destroying public or private infrastructure,looting valuables of innocent Nigerians and shops under the guise of protests.
“The TUC utilizes this opportunity to once again warn the
Buhari administration that it has no right to use maximum force on Nigerians peacefully demonstrating against the failure of government to produce depositors’ money on demand. The use of live bullets against defenceless Nigerians as the first line of response is criminal.The Presidency,members of this government including the Chiefs of Police and other security agencies must know that the TUC can compile evidence of such atrocities and seek to bring them to justice if not in Nigeria,then outside the country”,it added.
