NLC strike: Asaba residents in ‘crazy’ rush at markets, banks

Ahead of tomorrow’s commencement of the indefinite workers’ strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), residents of Asaba and environs abandoned offices and besieged commodity markets, shopping malls and bank galleries in Asaba, the state capital to stockpile foodstuffs and make withdrawals that could last them awhile.

Daily Trust checks at the popular Ogbe-Ogonogo and other commodity markets witnessed unprecedented congestion and beehive of activities of transactions between traders and customers of diverse wares.

Also at the exquisite Asaba Shopping Mall, where the multinational commodities mall, Shoprite is housed, it was charged to brim by customers who thronged the place ceaselessly.

When our correspondent visited some bank galleries in Asaba metropolis, there were unusually boisterous long queues of customers in virtually all the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

Some vexed customers were seen charging at bank staff over system failure in banks and services default at the ATMs.

Some customers who spoke to our correspondent expressed dismay over the unusual crowd at the markets and banks despite the fact that the state and local councils workers had been paid November salaries.

One customer, Sam Olanye, said attention has shifted to the ATM, resulting from lingering system failure in the banks’ operations, noting that “the queues in and outside the banks are too much. I have three bank accounts and yet I could not withdraw from any of them.”

“The ATMs were unable to dispense cash due to the unavoidable rush. Even the use of PoS inside the bank failed. The major challenge is that tomorrow is the commencement of the strike.

“You can imagine what the situation will look like. In some banks where there are 3 to 4 ATMs, only one could be working. How could one serve a mammoth!?” he queried.

Meanwhile, NLC State Secretary, Mr Innocent Ofuoyeadi, told journalists that the state is poised to carry out the directive of its national body.