Segun Babatunde in Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya is to launch a 500 million Naira Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs intervention programme as part of measures to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on small businesses.
This was disclosed by the state Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, Malam Muhammad Gambo Magaji yesterday while declaring open a 2- Day training programme for SMEs owners and prospects on the new procurement law that has come into effect in the state as well as the amendments adopted to assist them partake in procurement activities during emergencies.
He said the training is aimed at keeping SMEs owners abreast of the new requirements and incentives available to them which includes exclusive rights to contracts below N50m.
The Commissioner urged the participants to take advantage of the training to learn about the new laws and the E-procurement procedures the state is adopting to aid procurement activities during the pandemic.
He said, ” I convey to you the best wishes of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and I also wish to disclose that the Governor will soon launch a 500m SMEs intervention programme to aid small businesses in the state to recover from the COVID-19 induced negative impact on their businesses”.
Present at the opening ceremony were the Accountant General of the State, Alh Umar Bello, Permanent Secretary Budget, Jalo Ali , Executive Chairman of the state Internal Revenue Service, Mal. Abubakar Inuwa Tata, the Director General, State Procurement Bureau, Alhaji Babayola Mohammed, Director Treasury, Aminu Yuguda and other top government officials.
The training which will be in two streams of 100 participants, is being facilitated by Microflex Limited. END