PASSEC petitions Labour Minister over ASSBIFI fraud, calling for urgent investigation into forgery, mismanagement, and the disputed leadership of Olusoji Oluwole

The PASSEC petitions Labour Minister over ASSBIFI fraud scandal has set off alarms in Nigeria’s labour movement.

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As the Pan-African Society for Social and Economic Change (PASSEC) demanded urgent action on allegations of forgery, fraud, and financial mismanagement within the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI).

In a strongly worded letter, PASSEC accused Mr. Olusoji Oluwole of fraudulently occupying the office of National President following manipulated elections in 2022, which allegedly denied Comrade Amina Danesi her rightful mandate.

According to PASSEC, Oluwole’s termination from Sterling Bank in 2020 made him ineligible to hold union office under the Trade Union Act.

The group alleged that falsified payslips, pension records, and tax documents were fabricated with the complicity of insiders in Sterling Bank’s HR department.

Even more troubling, PASSEC claimed over N300 million has been misappropriated under Oluwole’s leadership since November 2022.

The society also accused some Ministry of Labour officials of ignoring formal petitions from aggrieved members, raising concerns about the Ministry’s accountability.

PASSEC’s petition outlined urgent steps:

An independent investigation into Oluwole’s employment status in collaboration with Sterling Bank.
Release of his original payslips, pension, and tax records from 2020 to date.
Suspension of ASSBIFI leadership recognition by the Trade Union Congress pending probe results.
Referral of the case to EFCC, DSS, CBN, and ICPC for prosecution.
Restoration of Comrade Amina Danesi as the lawful leader, reflecting the November 2022 free and fair election.

Comrade Basah Mohammed, PASSEC’s Executive Director, stressed that swift ministerial action was vital to safeguard the credibility of Nigeria’s trade unions.

“We stand ready to cooperate with your Ministry and relevant agencies to ensure justice is served and the sanctity of public and labour institutions is upheld,” Mohammed declared.

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As the scandal deepens, pressure mounts on the Ministry of Labour and Employment to respond decisively, with stakeholders warning that silence could set a dangerous precedent for fraudulent leadership in Nigeria’s labour movement.