The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has appealed to Nigerians to stop attacking bank workers, saying they are also victims of the nation’s cash scarcity.

TUC made the appeal in a statement signed by its president, Festus Osifo, and secretary general, Nuhu Toro, on Monday, in Lagos.

It said bank and financial institution employees at junior and senior staff levels were mere workers who distribute only currencies made available to the various banks by the regulatory agencies.

“It is also understandable that in some cases, the patience of people is worn so thin that they have resorted to protests and publicly demonstrating their feelings and frustrations,” the TUC statement explained. “Our fellow compatriots should realise that bank staff are like other Nigerians, victims of the poor implementation of the new currency design policy.”

It added, “They suffer like other Nigerians as they also have families to cater for and personal financial needs to meet. The TUC appeals to the Nigerian masses not to be provoked, and where they choose to publicly demonstrate their feelings, which is their human right, to do so peacefully.”

The statement assured the public that TUC, to which the Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) belongs, is working hard to resolve the financial crisis.

“It is also ready for peaceful solidarity actions with other Nigerians in collaboration with market associations, youth and student groups, professional associations and civil society organisations,” said TUC. “We are willing to participate in exerting pressure on the various governments and financial regulators to return the country to normalcy.”

TUC, however, said it did not encourage people to destroy public and private infrastructure, looting valuables of innocent Nigerians and shops under the guise of protest.

(NAN)