COVID-19 Lockdown: Co-op members make huge withdrawals from FIWON

Edith Igbokwe

Most of the members of Federation of Informal Workers Organization (FIWON) have exhausted their cooperative accounts due to frequent request for their savings as the effect of lockdown bit harder.

Following the frequent request for their money, the cooperative account is left with little amount to run the organisation, ECHONEWS gathered.

According to the FIWON Vice President, Engr. Joy Omiyale, the lockdown came unexpectedly and it restricted members from their daily business which left them with no opportunity than to request for their co-operative savings to survive.

Omiyale said: “Most of the cooperative members have zero account now. Majorly, the food item business members do request for their money on a weekly basis because they have to restock their goods for sales unlike before when their savings last for months and the account untouched.”

He disclosed that some of the members took loans from the cooperative to solve their immediate needs.

The organization appealed to government for support in terms of financial assistance and palliatives to help both members and the organization bounce back to business after the coronavirus pandemic.