ATM charges protests

 
…urges govt to reverse policy
Two groups, Concerned Human Rights Nigeria, CHRN, yesterday in Lagos protested the re-introduction of charges of N65 on Automated Teller, ATM, machines withdrawals by the new Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, saying the policy was antipeople and an indication of the government’s insensitivity to the citizenry.
The CHRN argued that with the charges, banks would be extorting the masses of about N780bn daily.
In a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Declan Ihekaire, which was issued during the protest yesterday, the group said the re-introduction of the charge showed how inconsistent the Nigerian government is in its policies.
The statement explained that the new policy on the ATM makes it clear that the current CBN governor is yet to come to terms with the responsibilities of his new office, unlike his previous position as the Managing Director of Zenith Bank, which was to protect the interest of shareholders.
Ihekaire said the new policy was a strategy to better the lot of the bankers, at the detriment of the bank users.
He said the reason given by the CBN for the re-introduction of the charges about the burden on Nigerian banks arising from the weight of Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC premium and Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON levy, as well as increasing cost of cash reserves, giving little room for pushing additional cost to bank, which has warranted the charges on ATM, was unacceptable.
Ihekaire said both NDIC and AMCON are government agencies that could be called to order to reduce the undue burden on the banks, rather than shifting the burden on the masses, who are at the receiving end.