Written by Ramiyu A Jalingo
Sir, I write to lambaste, reprimand and condemn in totality the malice move recently emblemed by CBN/NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, which if not properly addressed can threaten, endanger or jerk the Agri-Business, Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) and the entire Nigerian economy.
Mr. President, let me plea on behalf of the beneficiaries and applicants of AGSMEIS loan.
It's a crystal that in every loan or grant government intend to give to its citizens, the beneficiaries in some cases are not given direct access to the fund particularly that which is allocated to purchases of machineries and equipments, out of fear of diverting the fund to another purposes. This money is usually going to vendors account who will provide the M&E to them! NIRSAL has also emulated this, but their own is a total atrocity, exploitation and distortion, because the beneficiaries who are expected to select the vendor they need, who they know has the insights of the business activity they are operating on, to provide them with the accurate M&E, but they are denied this right.
The NIRSAL instead conspired with some vendors who I believe might be giving them some percentage to rob the beneficiaries monies that are repayable! This can obviously make the beneficiaries unable to repay the loan, or put them in danger or hard states of repaying the money someone robbed from them.
It has come to our notice that Taraba State has only 3 Vendors to partner with, and none of this vendors is from the state, one is from Kaduna, one from Borno and the other one from Adamawa which means you will be in Taraba and your vendor might be in Kaduna, and your loan money will go to his account to buy all the necessary M&E you need and send to you.
Our investigation has proven that some of this vendors are just mere contractors who have no knowledge of many of the enterprises, they don't sell all you need, they will have to make an order from the companies, increase the prices and send to you.
Mr. President Sir, the most painful part of the whole thing, and it's where we need your urgent intervention is, some of this vendors resorted that, any beneficiary must give them 5% of the whole money he/she collected as loan after they buy the machineries and equipments for you, and if you don't want them to provide the M&E then they will remove 10% of all the money I.e in every 1 Million Naira you borrowed, N100,000 is going to them for absolutely doing nothing and it's because this heinousness that some of the beneficiaries resorted to declining the loan, and this is a clear indication that the aim has been defeated.
Our questions here are, can the vendors be honest to give you the M&E at the same prices they buy them and collect just the 5% they said? Can they pay attention to buying the most quality and right machineries and equipments you want? Would a beneficiary who borrowed 5 Million Naira and give out N500,000 to vendor succeed in repaying back his loan and get something to rely on? Wallahi none of this will be obtainable.
Our investigation has also revealed that the Managing Director of the NIRSAL is not aware of this atrocity, he disclosed that beneficiaries are at liberty to chose the vendor they need. We therefore implore Mr president to investigate who the perpetrators are and bring them to justice, derogate the vendors and allow the beneficiaries to partner with vendors within their states.
This is the views and opinions of the beneficiaries from Taraba state, it does not involve any other state.
We have enough evidences to show and will be ready to organise a peaceful demonstration if nothing is done.
CC.
CBN Governor,
Honourable Minister of Agriculture,
Honourable Minister of Finance,
His Excellency, Executive Governor Taraba State,
Senators representing Taraba State,
Members House of representatives,
Human Rights Lawyers, and
Members Taraba state house of assembly!
Ramiyu A. Jalingo
Social media advocate, activist and commentator.
20/08/2020.
1 Comments
We are grateful
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