ZHUL-QI’DA 24, 1429 A.H.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2008
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Union advises FG not to rely on cooperatives
Nigeria Union of Fishermen and Seafood Dealers (NUFAS), has urged the federal government not to rely on cooperative formation to implement its fisheries programmes NUFAS National President, Mr Anthony Ashagye gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja.
He said it would be better for government to identify with viable NGOs to help implement its programmes instead of relying on cooperative groups.
``The elites, who formed themselves into cooperative groups, are suppressing the right of the rural farmers because they have access to government.
``They (elites), take advantage of the information they have and highjack some of the programmes meant for rural farmers.
``So, the formation of cooperatives alone will fail to achieve results and it will not help the rural farmers unless it is carried out through viable NGOs,'' he said.
Ashagye explained that fish production did not require long planning to achieve results.
``Any policy or programme that will take more than two years to produce sufficient fish to meet the demand of the country’s population has a hidden agenda,'' he said.
He said it would be difficult for the federal government to extend it's programmes directly to the states and local governments without the help of an intermediary.
He said that the union had been serving as a bridge to all the three tiers of government by mobilising its members to support government programmes.
