Following the early closure of Commercial banks in Plateau State, The state government has frowned at it and warned against closing earlier than the official 4:00p.m.
Plateau State government, which gave the warning, said customers were being shortchanged by the discriminatory practice.
A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Rufus Bature,
said the practice was unfair, as it was subjecting the customers to
untold hardship.
He said closing earlier than the official hour was “harmful to the economy of the state.”
The statement added that it was also “conveying the wrong impression
that the state is still in crisis, thereby giving the impression that
banking in Jos is at a high risk.”
According to Bature: “It is pertinent to mention that since the
advent of the Lalong’s administration, peace has been restored to the
state and Jos City has become one of the biggest and most peaceful
business destinations in the country.
“The government wishes to appeal to the commercial banks to rescind
the decision and extend banking services to 4.00p.m. to boost the
economy of the state.”
The governor had raised the issue in March last year when the
President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN)
visited him at the Government House.
Lalong complained that banks in Jos were closing their doors to
customers at 3:00p.m, instead of 4:00p.m, as is the practice nationwide.
Meanwhile, the governor has stressed the role of accountants in
fighting corruption in the present dispensation of making the country
great.
He stated this at the weekend when a delegation of the Association of
National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), led by its new President and
Chairman of Council, Shehu Ladan, visited him at the Government House.
The governor added that his administration, apart from establishing
the efficiency unit that is headed by an accountant, has also
established a public procurement law.
He promised to support the completion of the secretariat of the
National College of Accountancy of Nigeria located in Bassa local
council of the state.
Ladan commended the governor for his support for ANAN during its fund raising.