The Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN) Pays Courtesy Visit to the Honourable Minister in Charge of Cooperatives in Nigeria

…Minister promises to address the Non-Remittance of Cooperative Deductions from Salary

..Asked the Cooperative Movement to Come up with a Draft Amendment for the Coop Act 2004

..Ready to work with the Cooperative Movement to advance and revamp the Cooperative Sector

The Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN) recently paid a courtesy visit to the Honorable Minister in Charge of Cooperatives in Nigeria. In the person of Senator. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdulahhi,CON. (Baraden Borgu). The Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS).

The visit was aimed at strengthening the relationship between the CFN and the Supervisory Ministry, as well as discussing important issues related to the cooperative sector in Nigeria.

During the visit, members of the CFN expressed their commitment to supporting the development of cooperatives across the country. They highlighted the importance of cooperatives in driving economic growth, empowering communities, and promoting sustainable development.

The Honorable Minister welcomed the delegation from CFN and commended their efforts in championing the cooperative movement in Nigeria. He emphasized the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for cooperatives to thrive and contribute to the nation’s socio-economic development.

Discussions during the visit also centered on the challenges facing cooperatives in Nigeria and potential areas for collaboration between CFN and the Ministry to address these challenges. Key areas of focus included non-remittances of Cooperative Deductions from the Primary Societies members to the Cooperative Bank Account, the inability of the Federal Department of Cooperatives to pay its annual subscription to the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Global, as well as the Outdated Coop Act and the National Cooperative Development Policy which are all due for a review. The President further stated some of the challenges to include; access to finance, capacity building, market linkages, and policy advocacy.

The Honorable Minister in his response to all the challenges presented by the Cooperative Movement made them understand, that he is ready and willing to work with the CFN to provide solutions to all their challenges and requested that they make concrete presentation of some of the challenges so that he can act accordingly to resolve the issues especially that of IPPIS withholding members deductions, the review and possible amendment of the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act 2004 and the National Cooperative Development Policy 2002.

The courtesy visit provided an opportunity for both the CFN and the Supervising Ministry to reiterate their dedication to working together towards the growth and sustainability of the cooperative sector in Nigeria. It also underscored the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing the interests of cooperatives and their members.

As the cooperative movement continues to play a significant role in Nigeria’s development, the collaboration between CFN and the Ministry serves as a positive step towards achieving common goals and fostering a supportive environment for cooperatives to thrive. This visit reflects a shared commitment to harnessing the potential of cooperatives for the benefit of the Nigerian people and the overall economy