The Senior Staff Association of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has called on the Nigerian government, employers, and workers to collaborate in strengthening democracy and promoting decent work across all sectors of the economy.
ASSBIFI’s National President, Olusoji Oluwole, made the appeal during a seminar held in Lagos to mark the World Day for Decent Work, an annual global event dedicated to advancing fair labour practices and workers’ rights.
Collaboration Essential for Progress
Oluwole stressed that the collective efforts of the government, employers, and organised labour are vital for creating an enabling environment that guarantees justice, fairness, and respect for workers.
“Collaboration among critical stakeholders—government, employers, and labour—must be embraced to deepen democracy and enthrone peace and decent work in Nigeria,” he said.
He expressed solidarity with millions of Nigerian workers who, he noted, “toil daily under the weight of exploitation and impunity,” adding that it was time for leaders to protect the principles of decent work.
“We sound a clarion call to the Nigerian state and the ruling elite that the relentless assault on the pillars of decent work must end. It is in our collective interest to defend these values,” Oluwole declared.
Decent Work: A Foundation for Development
The ASSBIFI president underscored that the Decent Work Agenda, as promoted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other global bodies, is not merely a slogan but a blueprint for building an equitable society.
“The agenda rests on four key pillars—job creation, social protection, rights at work, and social dialogue,” he explained.
“Unfortunately, in Nigeria today, these pillars are being systematically eroded by the same tripartite partners—especially the government and some private employers—who are meant to uphold them.”
He described decent work as a critical foundation for sustainable national development, insisting that fair wages, safe workplaces, and the freedom to organise are indispensable to progress.
Economic Growth Through Fair Labour Practices
Oluwole argued that adherence to decent work principles directly contributes to economic growth by creating a healthy, skilled, and motivated workforce.
“Compliance with the Decent Work Agenda builds productivity, stimulates consumer demand, and fosters social cohesion,” he said.
“Conversely, the suppression of workers’ rights and the spread of indecent work only create a low-productivity, high-exploitation economy—one that fuels poverty and unrest.”
He cautioned that no nation can achieve sustainable development or true economic sovereignty while neglecting the welfare of its workforce.
“Sustainable progress depends on social justice—where the fruits of labour are equitably shared and workers have a genuine stake in the prosperity they help create,” he concluded.
