The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Abibata Zakariah, has disclosed that she could not do much when she was the Deputy CEO of the organisation.

She made the remark when hosts of the Super Morning Show, on Wednesday quizzed her on why she is now outlining several measures to turn things around at MASLOC, when she has been with the organisation all this while.

"As a Deputy CEO for four to five years, I wasn’t the CEO. Of course, I couldn’t implement certain things. But now I am a CEO," she explained.

According to her, having assumed duty, there will be significant changes in how the affairs of MASLOC would run under her leadership, adding that being the CEO offers her full authority to implement the necessary policies of the Centre.

Madam Abibata Zakariah noted that since assuming office, the institution has been doing well in the discharge of its responsibilities; yet, can perform better, especially in matters pertaining to recovery of funds from defaulters.

"There is time for everything. We cannot get everything 100 per cent. At least we have started with the right step in the right direction, by putting these strategies on board to improve upon our recovery."

In order to make loan packages attractive to citizens, the MASLOC CEO stated that the procedures are not as stringent as compared to other financial institutions.

"We are a pro-poor institution and our loans are short term. So, maybe what you are looking at may not necessarily be what applies to MASLOC, because in taking care of the pro-poor, you need to make things very easy for them in terms of accessibility of funds," she clarified.