The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has called for an end to casual labour in the banking industry.
The association said on Saturday in Lagos that the syndrome was responsible for some cases of fraud in the system, adding that its eradication would, to a large extent, reduce sharp practices in banking operation.

According to President of the association, Mr Sunday Salako, outsourcing or ‘’casualisation’’ of workers has been attributed to the cause of different robbery cases in the banks.

“Everybody who works in this sector must be employed as full staff and that has been the position of ASSBIFI since 2007.

‘’Casualisation is alien to the sector; the financial institution is very critical and sensitive that we cannot allow anybody who is not well motivated to be saddled with the responsibility of working in the sector.

“You can do it in any other sector but not in the banking sector that thrives on confidence,” he said.
Salako told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a casual worker who earned N50, 000 per month and was tempted with N5 million, could divulge any information or attempt to tamper with company’s money.

He, therefore, said that the sector must revert to the old trend where people rose to the top through hard work and dedication, insisting that career part in the industry must be well defined with good working environment. 

“Before, people rise through the ranks from a cleaner to a manager; this shows that loyalty and hard work pays; no matter your level, you will be given the opportunity to grow,’’ he said.

He said that the union had written to commend the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for condemning employment of outsourced workers.

Salako, therefore, urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to identify with the course to rid the banks and other financial outfits of outsourced employment and encourage employment of permanent staff.

On Treasury Single Account (TSA), he said that employers should not be in a hurry to cut jobs because the government could reverse the policy if it was no longer favourable to the economy.

He warned that any worker sacked as a result of the policy must be paid his or her complete entitlement to avoid industrial crisis.

“Employers should not be in a hurry to cut down jobs just because of a single policy. Before the policy, people were making money and declaring fabulous balance sheets. 

“The government can look at it and reverse it tomorrow if they believe it can harm the economy. These are the areas we have shown concern and try to look at the TSA more critically,’’ he stated.

The workers’ leader noted that the liquidity of about N1.2 trillion, moved from the commercial banks to CBN could affect the economy.

According to him, anything that will affect the liquidity of the deposit money banks will also affect their lending hands to the needed areas of the economy.

He said that the only agent that could kick-start the economy and make it robust was the banking sector and that if such money was taken from them and given to government banker to keep, it would affect them.
He said that the union had not issued any advice to the government on TSA, because the main target was to fight against corruption and any contrary idea could be taken as supporting corruption to thrive.

“We want to be fair on the government, maybe in the process of finding a way to tackle corruption, TSA is the information given to them.

“But, with the policy and seeing the reactions of Nigerians, they can look at these reactions and try to harmonise the best way in moving the country forward if the policy is not yielding the desired result,’’ Salako said. (NAN)