By Fredrick Nwabufo
Trust is an essential quality. It is a valuable non-commodity asset. It is the diviner of promise and fulfilment. A government that succeeds is one which holds sufficient public trust and exerts itself considerably to keep it by delivering on its promises.
Introducing the consumer credit scheme was one of the foremost pledges of President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential campaigns. The President had said: ‘’Corruption will be addressed when an individual does not need to have cash readily available to buy a vehicle, for instance, if there is a credit facility to finance it. Credit financing, in turn, will stimulate productivity and demand. We can, and we will. We will change the inefficiencies. We will drive Nigeria’s potential to delivery.’’
Within a few months after assuming office, President Tinubu went to work in fidelity to his promise. In April 2024, the President approved the take-off of the Consumer Credit Scheme with the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) as the institutional apparatus.
Today, the gestation of hope has reached parturition. CREDICORP has begun disbursement. And Nigerians from across diverse backgrounds and sectors, especially those in the essential service sector, are the latest beneficiaries. So far, the agency has disbursed over N3.5 billion with teachers, medical doctors, security officers, administrators, and workers in specialised services as the first beneficiaries.
The reason for this is obvious. This segment of workers forms the core of the nation’s workforce and provides essential services. But the credit blanket will spread further to cover the majority of Nigerians in subsequent phases as the scheme was conceived by President Tinubu for all Nigerians.
According to data by CREDICORP, credit was provided for a slew of needs, such as the procurement of petrol alternatives (solar panels, CNG conversion, tricycles), home improvements, school fees and medical needs, as well as the purchase of household items.
The CREDICORP data also shows that over N1.5 billion has been disbursed to federal and state workers in the education sector; administrators in federal and state MDAs over N755 million; medical doctors in federal and state services over N600 million; police/paramilitary officers (police, civil defence, customs, immigration, and correctional service) over N367 million, and Nigerians in specialised services (judiciary, EFCC, ICPC, traffic authorities, environment) over N273 million.
Additionally, in the education sector, over 4,700 Nigerians are beneficiaries; in administration over 2,800; in health over 1,300; police/paramilitary over 1,260, and specialised services, over 750. More Nigerians are being enlisted as beneficiaries of this epochal scheme.
President Tinubu’s vision is to spread prosperity, create a robust credit system, strengthen the financial architecture, and empower Nigerians sustainably while removing the incentive for corruption.
In full apprehension of the concerns of citizens, the President Tinubu administration has sustained its interventions in critical sectors and directly in providing relief to vulnerable Nigerians. It is ratcheting up effort on social investment programmes to lift the most vulnerable population out of poverty. So far, additional payment has been made to about one million verified recipients under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme.
President Tinubu has remained true to his pledges. He pledged to introduce the student loan scheme to remove financial impediments to higher education for Nigerians. Today, this pledge is an actuality.
The President affirmed public good and trust as his motivation when he met with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani at the Presidential Villa, on September 20.
He said: ”I did not come to look for money and exploit the situation; I came to work. I asked for the votes, and Nigerians gave them to me.”
President Tinubu is working for Nigerians.
Fredrick Nwabufo is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement