FG to clamp down on illegal cooperatives
The Federal Government has declared its intention to clamp down on illegal cooperative societies across the country as part of a broader reform agenda aimed at revitalising the sector and boosting food security.
The move, spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, seeks to ensure that only properly registered and accountable cooperatives operate in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Technical Strategy Session on the Implementation of the Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi decried the proliferation of fraudulent cooperatives.
He warned that the government would take decisive action to sanitise the system.
“We will bring a new order of not just registering cooperatives but registering them for what they do. It is strange for you to call yourself a cooperative society when you’re not registered because that’s what is happening around outrageous human beings. Just recently where I come from, someone swindled the community in the name of a cooperative society,” he said.
“We must prevent things like this from happening and even among the cooperative in our various organizations, there are lots of abuses, and we must prevent that. Things like this have to stop. That’s the essence of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration,” he added.
Abdullahi underscored the importance of the cooperative sector in driving economic growth, reducing poverty, and fostering social cohesion.
He noted that the government is committed to creating a transparent and accountable cooperative system that aligns with national development goals.
“Our mission today is to chart a new course for the cooperative sector, one that is built on the principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. We aim to create an enabling environment that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation.”
As part of the reform agenda, Abdullahi revealed that the ministry would review the Final Report of the Ministerial Technical Working Group on the Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme to develop an effective implementation strategy.
The restructuring of the Federal Department of Cooperatives and the repositioning of Federal Cooperative Colleges were also listed as key priorities.
“We will discuss strategies for repositioning the Federal Cooperative Colleges in Nigeria. Our goal is to ensure that these institutions are equipped to provide high-quality training and education, preparing our youth for the challenges of the 21st century,” he added.
Aliu further emphasised that Nigeria must learn from successful cooperative models in other countries, particularly in the area of capital mobilisation.
“Part of the reform is mirroring successful countries that have done very well, including capital mobilization, so that access to cooperative capital can become very simple.”
Director of the Federal Department of Cooperatives Sani Aliu highlighted the need for Nigerian cooperatives to contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic development, stressing that the reform program was crucial in making the sector more productive.
“We are all aware that the ministry is implementing the Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme for Nigeria. It is also important for us to understand that cooperatives around the world are greatly contributing to the development of many nations,” he said.
“It is on this note that the Minister took it upon himself to reposition the Nigerian cooperative sector following the introduction of the reform and revamp programme so that the Nigerian cooperative community will be revitalized to generate income and contribute to the nation’s socioeconomic development,” he added.
The Minister called for increased collaboration between the government, private sector, and cooperative societies to ensure the success of the reform initiative.
“As we move forward, we recognize that our success will depend on collaboration and partnerships. We will work closely with stakeholders, including cooperative societies, private sector operators, and civil society organisations,” he said.
