Dutse, The Jigawa chapter of Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), has commended the state government for empowering 2,500 entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as part of its palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
NASSI’s Secretary in the state, Mr Danlami Haladu, gave the commendation in a statement in Dutse on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Jigawa government, in its State Executive Council meeting on Aug. 10, approved several palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy among the people in the state, including Small- and Medium-Scale Business (SMEs) operators and entrepreneurs in the state.
According to the state Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, Mr Sagir Musa, who briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting,the breakdown is as follows.
“An empowerment programme for 1,500 young entrepreneurs running existing businesses across the 27 local government areas of the state, where each of the beneficiaries will receive N50,000 to enhance their businesses.
“Approval to support 1,000 SMEs with N100,000 each, under its J-Cares, a World Bank-supported programme.”
The commissioner, however, pointed out that only those SMEs that made the World Bank’s criteria of being registered, has bank accounts, BVN and have at least two employees, will get the grants.
“The association wishes to commend the effort of the state government for approving empowerment programmes for 1,500 young entrepreneurs and 1,000 SMEs across Jigawa,” the secretary said.
NASSI’s Secretary, Haladu, also commended the state and the Federal Governments for their efforts to supply 10 trucks of rice for distribution to less privileged people in the state cushion the effects of subsidy removal, which caused hire in prices of food items and other commodities.
NAN also reports that while the Federal Government sent five trucks of rice for distribution to people in the state, to cover more beneficiaries, the state government procured another five trucks at the cost of N134,665.
The association, however, advised the state government to ensure that the palliative distribution has reached the down-trodden and is done for the betterment of all and sundry across the state.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria