By Daniel Tyokua
The Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) of the FCT has warned officials of the cooperative society against unwholesome practices that would incite crisis in the system.
The mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim stated this during the dedication of meritorious award to the secretary, by FCTA Staff Multi-purpose cooperative Society limited on Monday in Abuja.
He advised the officials not to engage themselves in practices that are against the members, saying the secretariat will make the leaders to face full wrath of the law, if they compromised.
Ibrahim said cooperative society plays an important role in bettering the lives of members, therefore stringent measures should be put in place to avert issues that will ignite crisis and litigation.
In his words:”Officials of the cooperative Society must steer clear of ill practices that will plague it into crisis. The secretariat is ready to make them face the full wrath of the law, if they cause misunderstanding.
“cooperative Society plays an important role in facilitating social economic development of any society, is an opportunity for members to pull resources together to pursue mutual benefits that will take people off the poverty line.
“It is worth to note that under the present leadership of the co-operative, there are no cases of litigation against the leaders. I commend you for raising a single digit line in your credit facility for members to secure and enjoy their benefits.
“Our role as government is to regulate activities of cooperatives to ensure that the rules of engagement are obeyed.Your records with the cooperative department are up to date, I also call on farmers to organise themselves into cooperatives and register with the department, only duly registered cooperatives would be considered” He said.
