NSCDC Cooperative Hosts National Summit: The CG Commends Cooperatives’ Impact on Personnel Welfare

The National Security Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) recently hosted a 3-day significant national summit, on Wednesday last week 14th to 16th August 2024, at their headquarters at Sauka, Airport Road, Abuja, FCT, focusing on cooperatives’ vital role in enhancing personnel welfare. The theme of the event was Recessed Economy: Options for Cooperatives for Self-Reliance and Sustainability. During the event, the Corps’ Commandant General (CG) Abubakar Ahmed Audi, expressed commendation for the transformative impact of cooperative societies on the well-being of staff within the organization.

He emphasized that cooperatives not only empower individuals through collective resource management and financial support but also foster a sense of community and solidarity among personnel. By leveraging cooperative frameworks, the NSCDC aims to improve living standards, provide financial stability, and encourage a culture of mutual assistance among its members, ultimately contributing to a more cohesive and motivated workforce.

In his address, Audi praised the role of the Cooperative as an independent body. He emphasized that his administration is committed to fostering robust staff welfare by working closely with the Cooperative to improve the economic conditions of NSCDC personnel.

The Commandant General, who is also the Grand Patron of the NSCDC Cooperative, encouraged personnel to align with the Cooperative’s objectives. He highlighted that with the Corps’ large population, significant achievements can be made if the majority of staff become members.

“It is time for us to develop strategies to include all personnel. The Corps is a large paramilitary agency, and with our size, we can determine the viability of our Cooperative,” the Commandant General said.

He took the opportunity to commend the Corps personnel for their outstanding performance during the recent nationwide protest against bad governance. He noted their professionalism as a testament to the positive changes within the Corps.

Earlier, in a welcome address, the NSCDC Cooperative President, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Oladeji Jones Aina, explained that the summit was organized in response to current inflation and other economic issues, as well as the need to ensure the Cooperative’s sustainability.

Aina praised the Commandant General for his support, which has significantly advanced the Cooperative’s efforts to establish a Micro Finance Bank.

He also highlighted the need to review the IPPIS platform to prioritize Cooperative deductions over other non-statutory deductions, given that the Cooperative society is the second most important welfare vehicle of the service.

Goodwill messages were also delivered by the Director of Cooperatives, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mr. Salako Olusegun, and the Special Assistant on Cooperatives and Farmers’ Welfare to the Honorable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Victor Oyegoke, who served as guest speakers at the Technical Session of the summit.

The Cooperative Society has approximately 35,000 members, and summit participants included executive members from the 36 state commands and the FCT.