The Kwara House of Assembly has resolved to wield the big stick against illegal and unregistered cooperative societies operating within the state.
This action follows a motion titled “Need To Curb The Illegal Activities of Unregistered Cooperative Societies in Kwara State”, moved by Hon. Odetundun Olushola (Irepodun) and seconded by Hon. Maryam Yusuf Aladi (Ilorin South).
In its resolution on the motion, the legislature urged Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to direct the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology to commence the immediate identification of all unregistered cooperative societies and enforce their registration. Failure to comply, it stated, should attract the closure of such entities and the prosecution of their operators in accordance with the law.
The Assembly also called on the governor to instruct the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology to review and simplify the registration process for cooperative societies, making it more accessible, transparent, and efficient so as to encourage voluntary compliance.
Furthermore, it urged the governor to direct the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology to collaborate with the Ministry of Communication to launch a statewide public sensitisation campaign aimed at educating citizens on the importance of engaging only with registered cooperative societies and the dangers of doing otherwise.
The lawmakers additionally appealed to the governor to mandate the Ministry of Communication to collaborate with the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, to monitor the activities of radio stations across the state, ensuring that only legitimate financial institutions and cooperative societies are promoted on their frequencies.
