The Deputy Managing Director of the National Food Security, Processing and Marketing Corporation (NFSPMC), Lamin Sanyang, has issued a stern warning to Secco presidents accused of withholding payments owed to farmers for groundnuts supplied, declaring that those responsible could face legal action.
Sanyang delivered the warning during a meeting with aggrieved farmers who said they had handed over their groundnuts but were still waiting to be paid by some Secco presidents.
He dismissed claims that delayed payments resulted from a shortage of funds, insisting that the NFSPMC had consistently released money to Seccos to enable prompt payment to farmers.
“For him to say that there is no money is a lie because we used to supply money to Seccos every week. Even in his remarks, he felt guilty,” Sanyang said.
He squarely blamed the affected Secco presidents for the alleged failure to pay farmers, describing the conduct as a serious breach of trust and an abuse that the corporation will no longer tolerate.
“This is the bad job of the Secco president. But this would be the last for such thing to happen again,” he said.
Sanyang said any Secco official found responsible for diverting, withholding or mismanaging funds meant for farmers would be held accountable, including through legal proceedings where necessary.
He also cautioned farmers against releasing their groundnuts to Secco presidents or any other buyer without immediate payment, stressing that government policy prohibits the purchase of groundnuts on credit.
The complaints have exposed the financial strain faced by farming households that depend on prompt groundnut payments to settle debts, buy food, prepare for the next farming season and meet other household needs.
Sanyang said the NFSPMC would investigate the complaints and take decisive measures against anyone found to have denied farmers their rightful payments.
“The corporation will not accept a system in which farmers surrender their produce and are left waiting indefinitely for money that should have been paid immediately,” he said.
The warning signals a tougher NFSPMC stance against Secco operators accused of failing farmers, as the corporation moves to enforce accountability and protect producers in the groundnut marketing chain.