Commercial Banks In Benue Join Strike Action

Commercial banks in Benue State, on Friday, joined the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) ongoing strike, which commenced on Wednesday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the strike was to protest the deductions of staff salaries and non-payment of three years’ transport allowances owed them. They were also protesting against the non-implementation of the full minimum wage by the state government. NAN also reports that part of the workers’ grievances were the non-implementation of 15 per cent and two and half per cent increment for pensioners in the state. Customers were stranded at the various banks in Makurdi, Benue State capital, following the picketing of the banks by union officials. Mr Joseph Nyitar, a customer, told NAN that he travelled from Gbajimba to withdraw his deposits and was stranded over the closure of the banks.