Members of Traders and Hand Workers Association of Post Office Maiduguri (TAHWAP) have applauded the financial support and concern of Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum for empowering them with N75.4 million to boost their respective trades and hand works.
The Chairman of the association, Ambassador Mohammed Mustapha BaChillu who disclosed this at the weekend to newsmen said the financial support will go a long way in boosting their trades and make them self reliant as well reduce their poverty.
According to him, the association has a membership of over 5000 traders and hand workers where presently, the association has 1,488 registered members at the Post Office area of Maiduguri metropolis which is the central business district of the state capital and over 3000 unregistered members apart from the 56 members that were omitted from the first list of registered members that were initially forwarded to the governor for approval of disbursement of the financial assistance.
He said the omission and delay were as a result of delay in submission of list of registered members, death of some members, problems of BVN and issues of names variance which some members faced at the initial stage, but have been rectified now where majority of the members are yet to benefit from the financial support of the state government.
BaChillu however said the 1,488 members in the first list earlier submitted to the governor for approval of the payments have so far benefitted from the financial support of N50,000 each totalling N75, 400,000.00 from the N75.4 million released to the association by the state government while efforts are being made by the leadership of the association to ensure those that are yet to benefit also from the gesture on the approval of the governor.
He added that the screening exercise of the new and omitted members is in progress and expressed hope that all the members yet to benefit will soon benefit accordingly, while expressing joy and willingness of the members to continue to support and cooperate with the state government to boost their businesses.
On his part, the Secretary of the association, Malam Mustapha Hussaini assured that no member will be left behind in the process while appealing for patience and understanding of the members to serve them better.
He also charged the members to continue to be law abiding and obey constituted authorities towards improving their respective trades and works while stressing that, presently, the leadership of the association is assiduously working out modalities for those yet to benefit from the state government financial support to benefit too.
Hussaini however thanked the governor for always considering them and carrying them along in the scheme of things as government carry out expansion and rehabilitation of roads and drainages construction around the post office area and allowing them to continue with their businesses without any molestation or embarrassment.
