Consumer credit scheme takes off with civil servants

President Bola Tinubu has approved the take-off of the first phase of the Consumer Credit Scheme, commencing with civil servants.

The credit will enable citizens to enhance quality of life by accessing goods and services upfront, and paying over time.

The President noted that every hardworking Nigerian should have access to social mobility, with consumer credit playing pivotal role in achieving the vision.

The agency in charge, Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) is striving to achieve its mandate through strengthening Nigeria’s credit reporting systems, ensuring every economically active citizen has a dependable credit score.

Consequent upon the President’s directive to expand consumer credit access to Nigerians, CREDICORP said it had launched a portal for Nigerians to express interest in receiving consumer credit.

The scheme will be rolled out in phases, starting with members of the civil service and moving to members of the public.

MEANWHILE,the Presidency on Wednesday hinted of plans by the Federal Government to tackle poverty and insecurity head-on in Nigeria through financial inclusion for all Nigerians.

It disclosed that high-level talks are on to unveil a roadmap for integrating the unbanked Nigerian population into the formal financial system, a priority, it said, was one of the targets in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration.

Addressing newsmen ahead of a National Stakeholders’ Workshop on Financial Inclusion, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, emphasised the administration’s commitment to an all-inclusive Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said: “Economic and financial inclusion are essential components of President Tinubu’s agenda to assist in integrating the underserved and unbanked into the formal financial system. This will enable Nigerians to access a range of financial services at a reasonable cost,” Hadejia stated.

The two-day workshop, scheduled to hold today and Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, aims to sensitise stakeholders and chart a course for accelerating financial inclusion efforts nationwide.

“Such services include transaction accounts, savings, payments, transfers, credit, pension, e-commerce, and insurance (including health insurance) within proximity to their places of work or residence. Economic security underlies the principle of financial inclusion.

“His Excellency, the Vice President and the Chairman of the National Council on Nutrition, Senator Kashim Shettima, is passionately committed to supporting the successful implementation of the national financial inclusion strategy,” the Deputy Chief of Staff said.

In his remarks, the Director-General of Financial Inclusion Centres, Sola Bickersteth, stressed the important role of the private sector, saying: “We want to closely collaborate with this government to make financial inclusion a reality for everyone.”