MSMEs Survival Fund reopened for 30 states

 

Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Katagum, yesterday said the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Survival Fund payroll support portal would be reopened for the remaining 30 states that have not met their quota.

Katagum also explained that Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are not eligible to participate in the reopening exercise, as they had already met their quota.

The Steering Committee said in a statement that the portal would be reopened from January 27th to February 2nd, 2021 and the payroll support portal would cut across education, hospitality and general sector.

“The public is reminded of the following qualification requirements: businesses must have CAC registration; businesses must have a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 50 staff; business must be owned by Nigerians; must have verifiable BVN.

“The Scheme provides for 45 per cent female participation and 5 per cent Special Needs participation. The payroll Support Track of the MSME Survival Fund Scheme is a component under the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan, which was flagged off on the 21st of September 2020, is aimed at supporting vulnerable MSMEs in the payroll obligations of over 500,000 employees for a period of 3 Months. Kindly note that registration for this scheme is FREE. Beware of Fraudsters.”

President Buhari installs New Service Chiefs

New Service Chiefs

 

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday installed new Nigeria’s service chiefs.

In the statement announcing this new installment, Femi Adesina said Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the present Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service.

“PMB appoints new Service Chiefs. Maj Gen LEO Irabor, CDS, Maj Gen I Attahiru, Army, Rear Adm AZ Gambo, Navy, AVM IO Alao, Air Force. He congratulates outgoing Service Chiefs on efforts to bring enduring peace to the country,” Adesina tweeted.

Irabor replaces Defense Chief Abayomi Olonisakin, while Army Chief Tukur Buratai is succeeded by Attahiru.

Gambo would now head the Navy, replacing Navy Chief Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas while Alao takes over from Air Chief Sadique Abubakar.

The replaced service chiefs were appointed by Buhari in 2015 after he was elected to his first presidential term but there has been a widespread clamour for their sack as Nigeria continued to wallow in security challenges.

In 2020, the Nigerian House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on all of the military service chiefs to resign. If they do not, the resolution called on Buhari to fire them. Earlier, the Senate had also expressed the view that the service chiefs had to go. The House motion appears to be more formal than the Senate’s action.

Buhari said the outgoing service chiefs had an “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country.” A position many critics would disapprove.