N500bn palliatives: Kano govt faults mode of distribution

The Kano State Government has criticised how the N500 billion the Federal Government allocated through the Bank of Industry to support small businesses throughout the nation’s geopolitical zones was distributed.

The complaint was made by Governor Abba Yusuf on Thursday night at a meeting with representatives of the Kano Cooperative Society at the Government House.

He disclosed that there was a significant skew in the distribution, with Lagos State receiving 47% of the allotted amount, the South-South Zone coming in second with 17%, and other regions receiving much lower percentages.

The distribution method was deemed “unfair, unconstitutional, and illegal” by Yusuf. He urged members of the National Assembly and the appropriate authorities to address the issue and punish those at fault.

He declared that in order to reduce poverty and regain their influence, cooperative societies would receive support from the state government.

The gathering was a part of celebrations for 2023’s International Day of Cooperatives.

Yusuf reiterated his administration’s top priority of ending poverty in Kano state while being represented by his deputy, Aminu Gwarzo.

Gwarzo emphasised the significance of cooperative societies as means by which citizens can improve their lives and contribute to the general development of their community and the country in a statement released on Friday by the deputy governor’s spokesman, Ibrahim Shuaibu.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation was Musa Aikawa, President of the Kano Cooperative Society, who emphasised the importance of cooperatives in improving the lives of their members.

He revealed that the majority of the state’s 2.8 million cooperative members are young people.

Aikawa asked the state government to get involved in order to create plans for lowering the high unemployment rate in the region.

Yusuf declared that the state government would work with cooperative societies to create initiatives to end poverty and promote sustainable development.

Read Also: Emefiele case will test Tinubu’s adherence to the law – Lawyer

“Furthermore, committees would be established to review the cooperative desk officers’ activities in each local government area, while desk officers would be introduced in major markets such as Dawanau, Kantin Kwari, and Yan Lemo to guide and support cooperative activities,” he added.

In order to advance and lower unemployment in Kano, the youth were urged to embrace cooperative business ventures by Mairo Danbatta, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Solid Minerals.

Several dignitaries, including government representatives and representatives from educational institutions involved in cooperative activities in Kano, attended the meeting.