Laolu Akande, senior special
assistant to the vice-president on media and publicity, says the TraderMoni
loan given to petty traders is not meant to buy voters.
In a statement on Friday in
Abuja, Akande said Nigerians are not for sale and cannot be bought.
He was reacting to a statement by
southern, middle belt leaders who accused Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo of
“bribing voters” with the TraderMoni scheme ahead of the 2019 elections.
Akande said the call for an end
to the initiative is an attack on the people who have benefitted from the
programme.
He said the administration of
President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to the welfare and upliftment of all
Nigerians regardless of party affiliations.
“We do not think the Nigerian
people are up for sale, nor can they be bought. Such suggestions are an insult
on our collective identity,” the statement read.
“And calling for the suspension
of a scheme that improves the businesses of ordinary, hardworking Nigerians,
like petty traders, is not only unfair, but an attack on the common man.
“The Social Investment programme
of the Buhari administration started in 2016, and the TraderMoni scheme is a
part.
“So, it is false to even
insinuate that the scheme was meant for advance vote buying when it was
conceived two years ago.
“TraderMoni, which is part of the
Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme under the SIPs, is designed to
assist petty traders across the country expand their trade through the
provision of collateral and interest-free loans from N10,000. The loans are
repayable over a period of six months.”
Akande described the social
investment scheme as the largest in the history of the country, adding that it
will reach two million Nigerians by the end of 2018.
“This administration has proven
over and over again that it is committed to the welfare of everyday Nigerians,
the common man,” he said.
“That is why we started the
largest Social Investment Programme in the history of our country. And we will
not relent in staying connected with our people.
“This is a major reason why
TraderMoni, which has since been formally launched in 33 states and the FCT,
will continue nationwide as we intend to reach two million Nigerians by the end
of the year.
“Over 809,000 Nigerians are
currently beneficiaries of the microcredit scheme.”
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