Nasarawa State commissioner for commerce, industries and cooperative, Alhaji Yusuf Loko, has called on cooperative societies to widen their scope of revenue generation so as to position themselves for the challenges ahead.

He gave the charge in Lafia, last week, at the annual general meeting and election of Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP) multipurpose cooperative society.

Alhaji Loko said, “there is the need for cooperative societies to diversify their source of revenue so as to have enough money to assist members at moment of need”.

The commissioner who was represented by Mr. Mathew Allu, a director in the ministry, charged the NADP cooperative society to create enabling environment for its members.

He, however, enjoined members to save for their retirement days, adding that “the idea of depending solely on pension is not good”.

Earlier, chairman, NADP cooperative society, board of directors, Comrade Aloko Isaiah, said the establishment of cooperative society “has cushioned the economic hardship experienced by the staff of NADP”.

 He said the cooperative society normally assists staff with soft loans, assuring that “we will still give loans provided the revolving account is kept managed”.

The business session of the meeting featured election of executive committee members, who will run the affairs of the society for the two years.

Among those elected as exco are Comrade MKa’aji Elayo, president, Bitrus Agya, Secretary, Haruna Rilwanu, Treasurer.  Others are Tanko Mohammed and Enoch Dogara who are to serve as financial secretary and auditor, respectively.