While the organised labour strike commenced nationwide on Thursday, bank customers in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital have not found it funny as ATM points around the rock city were besieged by early customers.
While New Dawn moved round the city on Thursday morning, customers were in panic withdrawal not knowing how long the strike would last.
A residence in Abeokuta told New Dawn that he was unaware the banks would join the strike due to their strategic roles. “I have been seeing long lines of customers at various ATM machines and it is annoying because I don’t think bank workers are government workers,” he said, unknown to him banks are members of the organised labour union embarking on the strike.
At Skye Bank, Oke Ilewo, customers tried hard to withdraw cash but later discovered that the machines may not have been loaded with cash due to the recent suspension by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“I have been at this ATM point for hours but it seems there is no money in the machines as the bank is on suspension by the CBN,” a customer who claimed anonymity said.
At Ibara area of the Ogun State capital, Wema Bank PLC was deserted since the ATM Machines were not dispensing. Other banks at Oke Ilewo axis were also besieged where the ATM machines were partly dispensing.
FCMB, Stanbic, Zenith and Diamond Banks were partly dispensing at Ole Ilewo which sparked a little hope.
Also at Lafenwa area of the metropolis, some ATM machines were virtually tired while customers kept long lines trying to withdraw cash.
“We don’t know if the strike would last for a week, the weekend is approaching and we are all at home and as you know we must feed,” a customer, Kusoro Isaac told New Dawn.
The nationwide strike commenced across Nigeria at exactly midnight of 27th September after the negotiations between the labour unions and the Nigerian government over the workers’ minimum wage ended in a deadlock
