Ekiti State Government, has issued a 15-day ultimatum to nine micro-finance banks involved in the disbursement of the CBN’s Special Purpose Vehichle on small and medium enterprises (SME) micro loans in the state to pay back or be sanctioned .
The defaulting banks are: Consistent Trust, Ijesa-Isu Ekiti; EK
Reliance, Ikole Ekiti; Omiye Micro Finance Bank, Ilupeju Ekiti;
Transwealth, Ado Ekiti; Sunbeam, Efon-Alaaye and Aramoko Micro Finance Bank, Aramoko Ekiti, Iyin Micro Finance Bank, Iyin Ekiti; Ulayin Bank, Ado Ekiti and Amoye Micro Finance Bank, Ikere Ekiti.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti, the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Chief Toyin Ojo, who is also the Chairman of the Recovery Team vowed that all the affected banks must recover the loans they disbursed and remit same to specified account of the State Government by the end of March, 2017.
Emphasising that all undisbursed money from the first tranche still with the Finance Banks must be paid back into the designated account within the 24hours, Chief Ojo said that “defaulting banks would also not be allowed to participate in the disbursement of the second tranche of the loan which he said would soon be accessed”.
He warned that “failure to repay the loan would not only deprive other potential beneficiaries from enjoying the largesse but may kill the laudable initiative designed to empower the people and boost the economic base of the society”, he said.
Meanwhile, wife of the Governor , Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose, has blamed gender inequality and discrimination against women on culture and tradition.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti at a one-day workshop organised for female lecturers in Southwest Nigerian Universities, she advocated a change in the gender imbalance; saying that God
realised that man alone could not carry out His plan hence the creation of the woman to compliment him.
Fayose, who was represented by the wife of the State Head of
Service, Mrs. Omotola Faseluka said the issue of discrimination against women has called the attention of the International community which had made efforts towards resolving the problem of the status of women.