ATM Abandoned, Business Grounded as Workers, Banks Strike Hit Day 4 in Kogi

[contextly_auto_sidebar]
THE ongoing strike by workers in Kogi State has grounded government activities and other operations including financial sector.

The strike, which began Monday, was called by leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart, following alleged decision of the state government to open salary accounts for the state workers in Zenith bank, while that of local government workers were opened in Access bank without the knowledge of the workers who only received bank opening statement alerts, asking them to visit the banks for account reconciliation.

Yahaya-Bello Part of labour grievances also included non-payment of workers’ salaries for the past six months and the sending of some top government officials on compulsory leave without any cogent reason or allegation against them.

While government offices, public primary and secondary schools across the state have been closed down since Monday, banks including micro finance banks were also closed and customers turned back.

To worsen the situation, most of the Automated Teller Machines, ATM, were not loaded with money.

The banks were said to have joined the strike in solidarity with the labour in the state because they were also affected by the decision of the state government to open accounts for the workers in just two banks, which will prevent workers to service the loans owed those banks since their salary accounts have been moved to other banks.

Credit: Vanguard