FG Directs Banks to Resume Normal Working Hours

By Dipo Olowookere

Commercial banks operating in the country have been directed by the federal government to resume their normal working hours before the COVID-19 era.

This directive was given on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 he set up few months ago to coordinate the national response on the global health crisis in the country.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, National Coordinator of the task force, Mr Sani Aliyu, stated that banks were now free to resume normal business activities.

Business Post recalls that few weeks ago, when the lockdown was eased by the federal government, commercial banks were asked to operate from 9am to 2am.

This caused queues at banking premises as only few customers were allowed into the banking hall at a time. Some of those who had to do a transaction at most busy banks were forced to rush to their banks early in the morning to pick a tally.

But at the briefing yesterday, Mr Aliyu said with effect from Tuesday, June 2, commercial banks were free to open their doors to customers from 8am to 4pm.

“Effective from Tuesday, June 2, the easing of the lockdown will be characterised by the following:

“There will be full opening of the financial sector with banks now allowed to operate normal working hours five days a week,” the National Coordinator said.

However, he said the national curfew from 8pm to 6am has now been pushed to 10pm and 4am daily.

“The nationwide curfew will remain in place but the timing will be reduced to 10pm and 4am.

“Just to clarify, the purpose of the curfew is to limit social interaction and therefore reduce the spread of the virus.

“Persons that are on essential duty including but not limited to those involved in the provision of health services, media services and critical infrastructure are exempted,” he announced.

Earlier, Chairman of the PTF, Mr Boss Mustapha, had announced the lifting of ban on religious gatherings in the country.

He said there is now the “relaxation of restriction on places of worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by state governments.

“Managed access to markets and locations of economic activity to limit the risk of transmission; ban on inter-state travels except for movement of agricultural produce, petroleum products, manufactured goods and essential services.

“Mandatory use of non-medical face masks in public places; mandatory provision of handwashing facilities/sanitisers in all public places; extensive temperature checks in public places; maintaining 2 metres between people in public places, amongst others.