Recently, visits to banks in Nigeria increased, but not everyone who visits goes as a customer. These visits are a source of worry for bank workers.
Some of the visitors to the bank come with aggression. Most of them have not been able to get cash to spend for petty purchase.
That visit to banks would soon be unnecessary till further notice.
Do you know that bank workers have started considering going on strike any time from now? They have been reports of several attacks on bank staff in the past few days.
Basically, they do not want to risk their lives managing people’s money.
Since start of the current cash crunch, the reaction of Nigerians towards bank workers has been nothing short of appalling and disheartening.
People who keep money have had to scale fence to keep their lives.
In reaction to these incidents, the National President of Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance And Financial Institutions, ASSBIFI, Olusoji Oluwole, expresses sadness.
Members of his association are under attack like they are the enemy of the state.
Reasons For Bank Workers’ Impending strike
In a press statement, the national president explained that bank workers have been dispensing whatever cash that was available in the bank.
Here are some of the reasons why the bank workers might be planning to go on strike
1. Attack On Five Banks In Ibadan
Properties and staff of five banks were recently attacked in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The attack was as a result of unverified reports on the social media fingering banks, as being responsible for the unavailability of the new naira notes.
2. Warri Attack On Bank Workers
It will be almost impossible for bank workers to continue working without any assurance for their safety and well being.
Our people are being abused, harassed and threatened not to come out of their premises at the close of work.
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“This was the case in Warri, Delta State, which forced the bank staff to run for their lives through the fence at the back of the bank branch.
3. No Control Over New Naira Notes
“Banks do not have control over the new naira notes. They take directives from the Central Bank, and no bank will want it’s workers to jeaopardise its business by hoarding the new naira notes.
“If the new notes are available, the workers will load them in the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) for the people to withdraw.
“But then, you can’t give what you don’t have. So all this attack should stop.
“Bank workers are caught in between the anger and reactions of the people and CBN’s cashless policy.
“There is need for bank workers to feel safe in their offices while carrying out their services to the benefit of the people.
“We had, in the past, warned of this happening and raised concerns about the safety of our Members working in banks,” he stressed.
Oluwole stated emphatically that, as in the past, bank workers are committed to ensuring they satisfy bank customers to the extent of what is made available to them.
“We are also mindful of the safety of our members who have expressed fear for their lives.
“And where the attacks and harassment remain uncontrolled, we may be compelled to advise them to stay away from work until their safety is guaranteed.”
EFCC’s Finds Cash In Vault
While the president of the bankers’ association is making this demand, one is quick to remember the recent discoveries of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a bank in Abuja, the EFCC found new naira notes in vaults. The operations manager of the bank was arrested while the anti-fraud agency loaded the ATM with the cash for people to withdraw.
This leaves people with the question. Are all banks really not having this cash?