Plateau cautions banks against early closure

Commercial banks in Plateau State have been warned against closing earlier than the official 4:00p.m.

The 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.