4 commercial banks donate N980m to Police in 2017
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he said the donations by banks were meant to secure banks facilities and the environment around the banks noting that the support started a long time ago1 speaking on the contributions mr moses igbrude publicity secretary independent shareholders association of nigeria said that the donations were not voluntary but imposed on banks in the name of improving security1 you want banks to create employment to kick start the economy by providing funding yet they are burdened with various impediment like amcon levies among others1 so what is the role of government in all these igbrude asked1 he said the government and the regulators should allow the managements of banks to contribute to security through their individual corporate social responsibility initiatives rather than by compulsion1 mr boniface okezie national coordinator progressive shareholders association of nigeria said there was nothing wrong with the donations provided it was channelled for specified purpose1 okezie said banks should identify urgent needs of the police such as accommodation or provision portable boreholes1 he said the provision of basic amenities would be preferable instead of donating cash1 okezie said shareholders should not be shortchanged and that every fund was important when it had to do with return on investment1 also speaking mazi okechukwu unegbu former president institute of bankers of nigeria said it was the responsibility of the government to provide security for its citizens and to make the business environment right for businesses to thrive1 while i have no problem with corporate bodies contributing or donating toward improving or assisting the npf it should not be by force or seen as if it is the banks duty to fund the police force1 unegbu said the question remained whether the police utilised the money for the purpose it was meant1 he said the banks were trying in terms of support but could not control the police or do more than contributing the money1 according to him in other countries banks do not fund the police because they have good security environment contributed by various police divisions unlike nigeria where it is centralised1 he however called on banks to sponsor specific projects that would affect the lives of the police instead of donating funds1 prof. sheriffdeen tella professor of economics olabisi onabanjo university ago-iwoye told nan that banks just like any organization must engage in corporate social responsibility csr1 since the police assist the banks in security matter it is important that part of the csr be spent on them as organisations not individuals1 for example purchase of vehicles for operations can be taken up under csr not building police station1 however mr nnamdi okonkwo fidelity bank managing director told the shareholders recently that it was an initiative of the bankers committee aimed at supporting the nigerian police1 okonkwo said that the committee agreed to support the police by equipping them and as well as provide other things needed to make their jobs easier. nan1