The Stability Group of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions(ASSBIFI) of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund has dissociated itself from today's politically motivated industrial action, declaring that the leader of the unit ASSBIFI, Bala Tijani has drifted from a hitherto declared crusade for the welfare of staff to rogue unionism.
In a statement in Abuja today, the group numbering 3,700 staff members employed between 2016-2023, and whose leaders pleaded anonymity for now, for strategic reasons, said they would watch no further as Bala and his cohorts hide under the facade of unionism to drive selfish political pursuits, corruption, orchestrated witch hunt and mischief detrimental to the collective interests of staff members.
"Comrades, we write you on behalf of the 3700 staff members who hitherto belonged to the ASSBIFI NSITF Unit. We have watched with, distress , dismay and great pain how the present leadership of our unit ASSBIFI led by Mr Tijanni Bala and his cohorts has been engaging in anti- union, anti- staff welfare activities by delving into politics and dragging all of us into unnecessary confrontation with the relevant authorities including but not limited to our Ministry, now being managed by our able Permanent Secretary.
"We shall not fold our arms and watch Bala and his mischievous journey men confront and defy the constituted authority of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, now led by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Daju Kachalon who has already apprehended the internal dispute in line with section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act and invited both the unions and the NSITF management to a meeting on Tuesday, 27th June, 2023.
"Whose interest is Bala and cohorts representing by shunning negotiation properly convened by the Ministry ? Certainly not that of the staff of the NSITF.
"Moreover, we have traced the tacit underground support being given by ASSBIFI National to Tijanni Bala and renegades. We are therefore serving the Management, the notice of withdrawal of our entire membership from ASSBIFI.
"We are doing so under the ILO principle of FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION and Section 40 of 1999 Constitution as amended.
"We shall communicate in writing to the Management in due course, our new Unions as we discuss with NUBUIFFE and others when we conclude our negotiations with any other serious like minded Unions. Management will receive our letter duly signed by each member.
"Consequently, our check off dues for June 2023 and other succeeding months should not be paid to ASBIFFI forthwith. We further urge all good Staff members to go about their duties.
The statement further added that the disputed issues were not new and were being effectively handled by the current Management more than the ex-while Excos before it, and should therefore be accorded support.