By IYOKPO J. EGBODO, Abuja
Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Industry have expressed displeasure over the implementation of the One Product – One Local Government (OLOP) scheme the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
The scheme which was fashioned after the Chinese concept, was aimed at encouraging each of the 774 local government areas across the federation to develop various agricultural and commercial products in which they have comparative advantage.
According to Umar Dikko, SMEDAN Director General, the funding of the entrepreneurial scheme which will be implemented in 109 Senatorial Districts under 2017 Appropriation Act, has been fully released.
In his intervention, Timothy Golu, chairman, House Committee on Budget and Research decried the exclusion of 360 members of House of Representatives in the scheme.
Also speaking, Wale Raji who expressed disgust over the selection process, noted that the laudable project has failed to impact positively on the citizenry due to neglect of critical stakeholders who are closer to the people at the grassroot.
On his part, Aminu Suleiman warned against the hijack of the scheme by some influential persons in the cause of selecting beneficiary Cooperatives across the Senatorial Districts.
Suleiman who doubles as chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Education queried the appropriation of N354 million released as well as rationale behind the increase in the personnel cost from N354 million in 2017 to N456 million proposed in 2018, as well as the location and type of assets owned by the agency for which the sum of N10,498,117 was proposed but not released.
The Kano lawmaker also frowned at the payment of N10.4 million being expended on annual rent rather than acquiring permanent office structure for the agency.
While responding, Dikko Umaru, SMEDAN Director General who confirmed the release of 100 percent of the fund approved for the implementation of One Product – One Local Government initiative, pledged to interface with the Committee.
He explained that the agency embarked on nationwide advertisement of the One Product One Local Government in the bid to ensure transparency.
