By Roland Ekama
The management of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), has commenced plans to develop staff housing estates in Lagos and Abuja respectively,as part of measures to resolve accomodations need of workers,
The NSC’s Executive Secretary, Barr. Pius Akutah, made the revelation in Lagos ,while speaking at the 28th Annual General Meeting/ Elections of NSC Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, on Monday.
Akutah plans are ongoing to engage the Lagos State government and Federal Capital Territory (FCT);on the best way possible to possess landed properties in the two aforementioned regions.
His words: “Take the issue of staff housing seriously because the challenge of shelter is a very serious one. I can see that it is something you have plans for but I want you to prioritize it. We have commenced efforts to secure an NSC estate for staff in Lagos and Abuja.”.
“We have discussed with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to help provide land for this purpose and we are doing the same with Lagos State. The idea is to ensure that members of staff own their property.”
The Executive Secretary further, commended the Cooperative Society for the efficient management of resources and encouraged NSC staff to become members.
He also expressed satisfaction on the cooperative society executives outstanding performance in the amplified financial base adding that “I would have joined this cooperative since I assumed duty at the Nigerian Shippers Council as Executive Secretary ”
Continuing, Akutah stressed that “From my experience with cooperative, members usually fight and belong to cults over leadership. I have seen this happen time and again, but when you come together to pull resources cooperative is actually a good thing. With this cooperative, it is easy to engage developers to put roof over the heads of members. When members need loans to enable take care of immediate needs, the cooperative also helps out.”
“I am impressed that the executives have operated this society in a commendable manner with good cooperative governance. Today you are dissolving the management to elect new one which shows that as leaders you are happy to make room for others to come in. This is a step in the right direction,” the NSC boss said.
While assuring that his management team will look into the requests the NSC Staff Cooperative Society had made, he encouraged the group to continue to grow its investment fund and not rely solely on savings.
Speaking earlier, the President of NSC Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, Mr. Adeyemi Olaolu, declared a net surplus of N141,854,723.73 for the year 2023, compared to N88,895,512.55 for the preceding year 2022.
He observed that the value indicated a difference of N52,959,211.18, representing a growth of about 60 percent of the net surplus from the previous year.
While appreciating the Akutah-led NSC management for the robust support and commitment to workers welfare, the Cooperative President encouraged the Executive Secretary to provide more training opportunities for members of staff.
Olaolu, however, assured that the society is committed to continuing the disbursement of dividends to members after the approval of the financial statement by the cooperators through individuals’ bank accounts, in line with financial regulations that oppose cash disbursement.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Stephen Olaniyi, expressed delight at the clean bill of health of the Cooperative leadership and reiterated the need to avail workers more training opportunities.
He equally encouraged the newly elected members to build on the successes recorded in recent years.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of a special recognition award to a former Cooperative President, Mr. Bashir Ambi, who raised the revenue profile of the Society from N38million to over N420million in 4 years.
Ambi is also credited with introducing a number of innovations at the Cooperative Society including; e-dividends, child education loans, health/ leadership training programmes, among others.
The Olaolu-led executives were returned unopposed for another 2-year tenure by a unanimous decision following satisfactory appraisal by members of the NSC Staff Cooperative Society.
