By Abubakar Yunusa
The Humanity Development and Empowerment Organisation (HDEO) has asked the federal government to pay back N12 billion borrowed by civil servants.
Speaking at the weekend in Abuja, Osita Nebolisa, outgoing national president of HEDO, also known as the Lenders Association, said the government had deducted the loans from the workers, but had failed to remit to the creditors.
Nebolisa, founder of Visa Microfinance Bank, said Dele Apanisile, the incoming president of the association, and his team should work towards resolving the issue with the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF).
“One of our most pressing challenges remains the recovery of over N12 billion,” the outgoing president said as he handed over to the new executive council.
“The incoming leadership, consisting largely of experienced members from the current team, brings valuable continuity to this effort.
“To those few who may have reservations, I appeal for unified support of their strategies to retrieve these funds and prevent future losses through the IPPIS deduction system.”
Nebolisa said under his leadership, the association – made up of commercial, microfinance banks, and finance companies – provided more than N6 billion in loans to over 2,000 civil servants.
He added that a service level agreement (SLA) was signed in 2023 with the OAGF to provide a framework for further equitable access to credit and protect stakeholders’ interests.
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