By Afolabi Samuel Odunayo
Following President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of nine persons as Board members of the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), members of the public have been reacting in various ways to the move.
While some Nigerians hail the appointments as strategic initiatives in the right direction, others believe it would have made more sense for Tinubu to address the lingering issues of workers minimum wage at this point in time.
It would be recalled that In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, July 3 by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the presidency had explained that Tinubu’s approval of the appointments is “to further expedite the process of expanding consumer credit access to Nigerians.”
In the post on Wednesday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre @PBATMediaCentre on X (formerly known as Twitter), Nigerians expressed mixed responses.
However, while some congratulated the corporation’s newly nominated board members recognizing the move as a step towards accelerating consumer credit access to 50% and removing structural and market barriers, a fair number of other netizens questioned its significance to the current economic situation of the country.
An X user, @frank2zee, commented:
“The country’s minimum wage is too poor for all these…there is a need to greatly improve people’s disposable income before all these can work we’ll.”
Another user, @Senator_Dega, inquired:
“What’s the benefit of this to the masses. Really want to know”.
Others, on the other hand, implied an undertone of ethnic bias in the list of the nominations.
“Wait ooo does it mean that Na Yoruba govt we do operate or is this how Nigeria has BN restructured ? What happens to other ethnic groups ..,” tweeted @UnclenB
Those named into the Board are as follows: Otunba Aderemi Abdul – Board Chairman (Independent Non-Executive Director), Engr. Uzoma Nwagba – Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Aisha Abdullahi – Executive Director (Credit, Risk & Portfolio)/CRO, Ms. Olanike Kolawole – Executive Director (Operations)/COO, Dr. Armstrong Ume Takang – Non-Executive Director (MOFI Nominee), Dr. Peter Iwegbu – Non-Executive Director (NIMC Nominee), Mr. Mohammed Nasiru Abbas – Non-Executive Director (FMITI Nominee), Mr. Marvin Nadah – Non-Executive Director (FCCPC Nominee), FMF Representative – Non-Executive Director (FMF).
“The President expects the new members of the Board of this pivotal institutional vehicle to bring their vast experience, competence, and dedication to bear in their functions to achieve CREDICORP’s mandate of accelerating access to consumer credit to millions of Nigerians,”Ngelale’s statement read in part.
