The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has called on the Federal Government and employers of labour to urgently address the casualisation of labour, improve workers' welfare, and guarantee decent work across Nigeria. This call was made by the acting president of ASSBIFI, Fanimokun Isaac Adesina, during the association's commemoration of the World Day for Decent Work at the ASSBIFI Events Centre, Alausa-Ikeja, Lagos, on October 7, 2026.
Adesina emphasized that decent work is a vehicle for advancing workers' rights, social justice, peace, harmony, and democracy. He noted that this year's theme, "Young Workers Organizing for the Future," is particularly relevant to the challenges confronting trade unionism and the changing world of work. The future of employment has already arrived, with technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation, automation, and outsourcing rapidly transforming workplaces.
Adesina expressed concern over the growing displacement of permanent employment by casual, contract, and outsourced jobs in the banking, insurance, and financial sectors. He stated that graduates with degrees and professional qualifications are increasingly being employed under conditions without pensions, health insurance, job security, or collective bargaining rights. Adesina described this situation as "not only indecent work, but modern-day slavery."
The ASSBIFI leader urged employers and management in the financial sector to respect workers' constitutional right to freedom of association and relevant International Labour Organization conventions. He specifically called for compliance with ILO Conventions 87 on freedom of association, 98 on collective bargaining, and 158 on termination of employment. Adesina also demanded an end to inadequate wages, insisting that Nigerian workers deserve salaries capable of supporting a decent standard of living.
Adesina called on the Federal Government to urgently reduce the burden of rising food, transportation, healthcare, housing, and education costs. He described the current minimum wage as unacceptable, stating that it cannot adequately feed an average family or meet basic housing needs. Adesina stressed that workers are not slaves and must be treated with the dignity that decent work reflects.
The union leader also warned that technological advancement could displace workers who fail to acquire new skills. He urged workers to develop digital competencies and understand emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and robotics, to remain productive and relevant in the evolving workplace. Adesina emphasized the importance of collective action, stating that workers cannot effectively confront powerful employers individually.
Adesina called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), and other regulatory agencies to make compliance with decent-work standards a corporate governance requirement for organisations operating in the country. He demanded an urgent review of Section 12(4) of the Trade Union Act, which he said had been abused by some employers to threaten, persuade, or discourage workers from joining trade unions.
Key points
- ASSBIFI urges FG and employers to end casualisation of labour and guarantee decent work across Nigeria.
- The association demands an end to inadequate wages and insists that Nigerian workers deserve salaries capable of supporting a decent standard of living.
- Adesina calls for collective action by workers, unions, employers, and government to build a more equitable labour environment.
