N39 Billion debt: Agro dealers stage peaceful protest in Abuja

Agro-dealers

The Growth Enhancement Scheme Agro-dealers Association of Nigeria (GESAAN) took to the streets of Abuja on Tuesday to protest the non payment of a N39 Billion outstanding debt owed them by the Federal Government.


The agro dealers said they had helped the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in solving the problems of farm input distribution through the GES programme in the past few years by supplying fertilizer and seeds and other farms products to farmers.

The protesters marched to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, carrying placards with inscriptions: `Buhari, save GES’, `No farmer, No nation’, `Pay us our 2014 to 2017 subsidy’ and `This is a breach of trust’.

The National Chairman of GESAAN, Kabiru Fara explained that the federal government owed his members huge sums of money for farm inputs redeemed by small holder farmers under the GES scheme since 2014.

He said that a total sum of N29billion has remained unpaid to date for the supply of fertilizers, seeds and other inputs by the past administration in 2014, while the sum of about N9.8billion is also being owed for recent distribution made for the 2016/2017 dry season framing.

He told FoodFarmNews that the dealers agreed to take part in the recent distribution after much assurances from the Minister that payment would be effected within two weeks of the completion of the exercise.

“This is how the programmes works, the farmer pay 50%, while the federal government pay 50%. But that part of the federal government is not forthcoming, as per 2014, 2015 and 2017. If they pay us everything is settled.

“In their own wisdom they accepted to pay, for which we were very happy  but even though they agree to pay, the payment is dragging. Our members are suffering, some are dying, we lost some members who didn’t get their money. The bills was initially about N71 billion. What is remaining now is N39billion for the liabilities. For the dry season we participated in the programme, farmer paid 50% while the federal government paid 50%.”

“We were told before we began the programme for 2017 that the money was ready, that they will pay us as soon as we finish. “Based on that, we participated and it is now six weeks, we have not been paid. We were told that there is no money.

He threatened that if the ministry fails to grant their request within one week all members of the association would not participate in 2017 wet season farming until the monies were paid, and our members will mobilize nationwide with their families and occupy the city until their debts are paid. he said.

According to him, agro dealer network has played a key role in solving the problem of farm input distribution through the GES programme, in the past few years. “The idea behind our coming out today is that we have suffered many years of non-payment of our money.

Addressing the group, Bukar Hassan, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, assured that the government would begin payment of the monies immediately. Hassan disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved some money to aid the payment of the outstanding monies, owed from 2014 to 2015.

“We are partners in progress and partners do not quarrel. “We appreciate your functions and responsibilities to reach our teeming farmers at the grassroots; otherwise, these farmers will not be able to get such inputs. “The present administration places a lot of emphasis on agriculture.
“President Buhari has approved certain amount of money to be paid, out of the N29 billion, and this will be paid to you immediately. he said''

The Permanent Secretary added “That payment will be done by the Federal Ministry of Finance, as has been the procedure in the past. “The government places importance on this programme, and that is why it decided to pursue it to a logical conclusion. “We will do our best to ensure that these payments are done based on equity. “And, therefore, all the dealers who we owe should be able to be paid something out of the resources,’’ he said.

Also, Ohiare Jatto, Director, Farm Input Support Services Department of the ministry, told foodfarmnews that the non-payment of the agro-dealers was as a result of the delay in the release of the balance of the ministry’s 2016 budget allocation.

“We thought the ministry will get 100 per cent of its 2016 budget allocation. As at now, the ministry only received about 65 per cent of its 2016 budget.

“The rest monies are yet to be released; but we are hoping that soon, the balance of the allocation will be released, and we will pay them as soon as that happens,’’ he said.

Alhaji Yau, a member of the GSSAN BOT, said that the GES programme  is geared toward changing the role of government, from direct procurement and distribution of fertilizer to a facilitator, and regulator of the commodity’s quality, and catalyst for active private sector participation in the fertilizer value chain. Yau added that his members have satisfied the government’s yearning to support farmers at the grassroots, given them inputs and in return Government has not completely paid  for the outstanding liability for 2014, 2016 which is N29 billion and now, we just finished another GES in February 2017, and we also gave inputs to the farmers. he urged that government meet up with the stated date for payment to avoid further protest by the association.
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 Kamil Said Haske, the National Welfare Officers GSSAN, also told foodfarmnews that, the protest was to call the attention of the federal government to the need to avert food crises in 2017, as he disclosed that most of the agro-dealers who supply during the pass exercise have no fund to restock their stores due to the lack of payment from 2014-2017.

Aisha Kolo the National Financial Secretary Agro-Dealers Association lamented that the dealers have suffered unimaginable losses, hardship, total loss of businesses and many others have  lost their lives as result of hardship meted on them by non-payment of their bills. the Financial Secretary Agro-Dealers Association urged government to urgently attend to the issue of non payment of agro-dealers to avert a recurrence of the protest as she added that the held protest is a warning protest to the Ministry.

Alhaji. Bello Abubakar, the National  Vice President Maize Association of Nigeria who also took part in the protest said it was of a great importance for farmers to join in the protest. he added that failure to get input supply to farmers at the necessary time will reduce the expected production in food in 2017, which might be an invitation to hunger in the land as the urged that the government to meet up with the need of the agro-dealers.

foodfarmnews further spoke with agro dealers present at the protest who said  that some of their members took loans from banks to participate in the business. Akinlami Aduragbami Eric, the Ceo Zion Global Nigeria said that the GES scheme was launched to provide support directly to farmers, to enable them to procure agricultural inputs at affordable prices, at the right time and place. He added that to further make the process successful, the federal government should speedily pay up the money owed the agro-dealers.

The protest was largely peaceful as police personnel were on hand to monitor the situation.