Business

Edo: Chinese Company Promises Improved Workers Welfare, Others

Published

4 years ago

September 27, 2021

The impasse between the management of a Chinese company, Yong Xing Steel Company, Benin, and some members of staff seems to be at the edge of settlement as the company’s top management staff have resolved to look into demands of the aggrieved members of staff.

Some members of staff mostly junior and contact staff had accused the company of maltreatment, physical assult and illegal deduction of their salaries with little infraction.

The aggrieved members of staff also accused the company management of stoping them from coming together to have a labour union, just as they added that anyone fronting such agitation is being maltreated and victimized.

But speaking with newsmen in an interactive session during the weekend, Managing Director, Young Xing Steel Company, Frank Wang, said the company has been doing it possible best in terms of workers welfare and every entitlement due them, but promised to look into other demands of the workers.

The Managing Director who was represented by the Assistant Public Relations Officer of the company, Isaac Olufemi, said though few members of staff of the company are demanding to join labour union and dissatisfied with some of the company’s policies, majority of members of staff are satisfied.

“We are going to address their demands, but the point is that, everyone cannot be satisfied. It is natural. For instance, if one earns say N1m or even N5m, one will still not be satisfied hence demand for more. But I assure you, every demand is going to be looked into,” he promised.

Speaking on the company stopping staff from joining labour union, the MD said “no one has come to me to inform me that he wants to join union, I am just hearing this now. If anyone comes to me to say he or she wants to join union, then it’s left for me to look into such demand, but non has done that. However, if the number of staff agitating to join union are just few, then it may not be matter of necessity.

On workers welfare, Mr. Wang said the company provides Personal Protection Equipment to members of staff of the company on monthly basis to make sure they work under safe environment, free accommodation because of the area the company is located and that a partnership with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, for an efficient healthcare for staff.

“We placed premium on the welfare of our workers, just as we have in our own little ways contributed to the development of our host community through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Rep of the MD and Assistant Public Relations Officer, Isaac Olufemi during his presentation at the interactive session.

“As for the staff, we have ensure regular training within and outside the country, provision of shelter, health insurance programme and provision of safety environment to work.

“The management have long time cooperation with UBTH to provide medical treatment for the staff,” (Sic) he added.

Clearing the air on misconception about the company on its Cooperate Social Responsibility, the MD said the company has done so much in terms of providing some social amenities, stressing that during heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company provided palliatives to different government institutions, agencies, etc.

“During the serious pandemic period, Nigerian Yong Xing Steel Company donated two trucks of anti-virus materials to the Tender Heart Orphanage. The company also donated similar materials to the Edo State Government, government ministries and parastatals/agencies. Nigerian Yong Xing Steel Company also donated palliatives to the Edo State Police Command, also donation of such Items was made to local banks in the state.

He continues, “Nigerian Yong Xing Steel Company has donated market with 50 shops to the host communities.”

“For the community, we have built markets stalls, provision of water and giving out palliative from time to time,” he stated.

Also,the Enogie (duke) of Ogua, Chief Ogie Aghaghowen, commended the steel company for creating an economic environment and also for ensuring peace in Ogua community.

Business

CBN Directs Banks To Refund Failed ATM Transactions Within 48hrs

Published

9 hours ago

October 11, 2025

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed Deposit Money Banks and other financial institutions to refund customers for failed Automated Teller Machine transactions within 48 hours, in a sweeping reform aimed at protecting consumers and restoring confidence in the banking system.

The directive is contained in a draft guideline released by the apex bank on Saturday, titled “Exposure of the Draft Guidelines on the Operations of Automated Teller Machines in Nigeria.”

The document, signed by Musa I. Jimoh, Director of Payments System Policy Department, was circulated to banks, payment service providers, card schemes, and independent ATM deployers, with a call for stakeholder feedback by October 31, 2025.

Under the draft, failed “on-us” transactions, where customers use their own bank’s ATM, must be reversed instantly. If technical glitches prevent immediate reversal, the bank is required to manually refund the customer within 24 hours.

For “not-on-us” transactions, involving other banks’ ATMs, refunds must be processed within 48 hours.

“Customers must not be made to suffer for failed transactions caused by system errors or network failures,” the circular stressed.

In a significant shift, the CBN mandated banks and ATM acquirers to deploy technology that automatically reverses failed or partial transactions, removing the need for customers to lodge complaints.

Institutions holding customer funds due to failed disbursements must reconcile and return balances immediately.

According to the apex bank, these measures respond to widespread frustration over delayed refunds and poor customer service and form part of a broader effort to enhance consumer protection, improve reliability, and modernise Nigeria’s payment infrastructure in line with global standards.

The guidelines will also overhaul ATM operations nationwide. Banks and card issuers are now required to deploy at least one ATM for every 5,000 active cards, with phased targets of 30% compliance in 2026, 60% in 2027, and full compliance by 2028. Any future deployment, relocation, or decommissioning of ATMs must receive prior approval from the CBN.

To ensure safety, ATMs must be fitted with anti-skimming devices, CCTV cameras, and placed in enclosed or well-lit areas.

Machines are expected to comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, maintain audit logs, and display functional helpdesk contacts. At least 2% of all ATMs must feature tactile symbols for visually impaired customers.

ATMs are also required to dispense cash before returning cards, allow free PIN changes, issue receipts for all transactions except balance inquiries, display clear transaction fees, dispense only clean banknotes, and provide backup power to reduce downtime.

Downtime must not exceed 72 consecutive hours, after which operators must inform the public of the cause and expected restoration time.

The CBN will enforce compliance through regular audits, on-site inspections, and monthly reports from ATM operators detailing deployments and locations. Defaulting institutions risk sanctions, though fines were not specified.

The apex bank explained that the overhaul was necessary due to rising complaints about failed transactions, cyber fraud, and declining service quality, noting that “the goal is to build a payments system that works seamlessly for everyone, urban and rural users alike.”

Nigeria’s electronic payments landscape has grown rapidly in recent years, with 200 million cardholders and rising reliance on digital banking, but network failures, poor infrastructure, and delayed reversals have continued to undermine confidence.

The fresh guidelines, coming eight months after a revision of ATM fees, are expected to streamline service delivery, enhance transaction security, and hold banks accountable. Stakeholders are invited to submit feedback ahead of the final policy adoption, which could take effect before the end of the year.

Business

Nigerian Stock Market Hits 10th Consecutive Uptrend As investors Gain N308bn

Published

2 days ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Stock Market recorded its 10th consecutive uptrend as investors raked in N308 billion gain on Thursday.

This comes as the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, market capitalisation, which opened at N92.490 trillion, appreciated by 0.33 per cent to close at N92.798 trillion on Thursday.

Also, the All-Share Index added 0.33 per cent, or 485.25 points, to close at 146,204.34, compared with 145,719.09 recorded on Wednesday.

Increased trading in Eunisell Interlinked, Caverton Offshore Support Group, Sunu Assurances, Industrial and Medical Gases, Mecure, and 27 other advancing stocks boosted market performance on Thursday.

To this end, the market breadth also closed positive with 32 gainers and 21 losers.

Further analysis showed that Eunisell Interlinked and Caverton Offshore Support Group led the gainers’ chart by 10 per cent each, closing at N44 and N6.93 per share, respectively, while FTN Cocoa Processors led the losers’ table by 6.67 per cent, closing at N5.60 per share.

Market activity showed a decline in the number of deals and volume traded but an improvement in trade value.

Accordingly, a total of 346.99 million shares worth N27.43 billion were traded in 24,691 deals, compared with 525.72 million shares worth N13.61 billion exchanged in 25,597 deals on Wednesday.

Fidelity Bank topped the activity chart with 42.01 million shares valued at N861.54 million.

According to DAILY POST, NGX has continued its bullish run from last month’s end to date.

Business

CBN Sets POS Maximum Transactions In Fresh Guidelines

Published

3 days ago

October 8, 2025

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria has rolled out fresh guidelines for agent banking, known as Point of Sales, across the country.

The apex also in the guidelines pegged daily POS transactions at N1.2 million per agent and N100,000 per individual.

CBN disclosed this in a circular signed by its Director of the Payments System Management Department, Musa Jimoh.

The guidelines further mandate all financial institutions to publish the list of all their POS agents on their website and to display it in their branches.

CBN noted that the guidelines would take effect from April 1, 2026.

“The Guidelines aim to establish minimum standards for operating agent banking in Nigeria, enhancing agent banking to provide financial services and promoting financial inclusion, encouraging responsible market conduct and improving service quality in agent banking operations.

“This circular takes effect from the date of release, while the implementation of agent location and agent exclusivity shall be in effect from April 1, 2026.

“POS agents are restricted to a maximum of N1.2 million per day. Individual customers are limited to N100,000 in daily transactions.

“These limits are intended to curb misuse, enhance financial integrity, and protect consumers within the agent banking framework,” it stated.