In Umuahia, Abia State, a few banks and gas stations avoided the wrath of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday for their initial unwillingness to abide by the two-day nationwide warning strike by organised labour.
A few of the town’s banks continued to operate in a minimal capacity by using ATMs and cash dispensing machines in bank halls, but many others entirely ceased operations.
The banks, however, that had already begun operating, abruptly suspended operations and ordered their clients to leave as soon as they received word that an NLC enforcement team was coming to observe and picket their premises.
At the main United Bank for Africa (UBA) branch, which is close to Government House, when OBASANJO NEWS24 arrived at 10 a.m., the bank was busy serving customers. However, three bank representatives arrived at the door at 11 a.m. to inform the public that they were unable to continue serving customers.
Please accept our sincere apologies for having to stop today. Even if a lot of other banks closed, we remained open as of today. We should, however, close right away, according to the latest information we have. We’re sorry to say you need return on Thursday, but we need to do so in order to support the NLC strike, one of the bank employees told the customers.
Many petrol stations in Umuahia didn’t open for business, but a handful did, including RainOil and Total, who benefited from the situation by making brisk sales as anxious drivers lined up to fill up.
Government employees in the state fully withdrew their services, including employees of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), leaving the city in the dark.
The Michael Okpara auditorium, the Office of the Head of Service, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, and various ministries were among the significant government buildings in Umuahia that were forced to be locked earlier on Tuesday by the Abia NLC, led by Paschal Nweke.
