The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajiya Maryam Katagum, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his love and concern for Nigerians that resulted in approval of various intervention programmes.
The Minister made the commendation in Bauchi on Tuesday during a town hall meeting with beneficiaries of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survival Fund and Guaranteed Off-Takers Scheme, North-East zone.
According to her, the President's exemplary leadership and love for Nigerians resulted in his approval of the MSME survival fund for the growth of the economy.
Represented by the Director General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph Ari, the Minister also appreciated the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for providing focused and purposeful leadership for the Nigeria Economy Sustainability Plan, and especially, the conceptualization and implementation of the MSME Survival Fund.
Katagum added that The MSME Survival Fund targeted two categories of beneficiaries which included employees of MSMEs that were registered in Nigeria with the Corporate Affairs Commission, have a BVN and with a Staff strength of not less than 3 persons.
The other category she said, comprised self-employed individuals including artisans, electricians, plumbers, service providers in the transportation sector and mechanics that have BVN numbers and active bank accounts.
"Implementation of the MSME Survival Fund across the Five tracks yielded positive results.
"Under the Payroll Support Scheme, the target was to augment the payroll obligations of 500,000 beneficiaries MSMEs in the Health, production, Education, Hospitality, and Food production sectors with a monthly payment ranging from N30,000 to N50,000 over a period of three months.
"Currently, over 496,894 employees received three months salaries in the 36 States and the FCT," said the Minister.
She revealed that in Bauchi State, the Scheme recorded a total of 33,309 beneficiaries for the scheme.
Earlier, the Special Assistant to the President on Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Mr Tola Adekunle-Johnson, said that The MSME Survival Fund was implemented to support and sustain the livelihood of vulnerable MSMEs and self-employed individuals most affected by Covid-19 Pandemic, its prolonged lockdown, and attendant social distancing guidelines.
Represented by Mr Qaim Mahmood from Project Delivery Office (PDO) the S.A added that the Scheme had a mandate for 45% of female beneficiaries and 5% Special Needs beneficiaries, adding that at the close of the Scheme, a total of 1,258,183 beneficiaries from the 36 states and FCT had received support through the different tracks of the Survival Fund and Guaranteed Offtake Scheme.
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, Jabir Musa from Bauchi LGA, appreciated the federal government for the programme and prayed God to strengthen the President in dishing out such a programme to help every Nigerians.
The MSMEs Survival Fund scheme is a conditional grant to support vulnerable micro and small enterprises in meeting their payroll obligations and safeguarding jobs in the MSMEs sector.
The scheme is expected to save at least 1.3 million jobs across the country and specifically impact over 35,000 individuals per state.
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