By Steve Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the release of N100million Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) funding to the Market Association in the state.
Besides, the governor said beneficiaries of the SME fund would henceforth be treated on the basis of association while all illegal parks in the state would be abolished.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting held with Artisans, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Market Association at Banquet Hall, Ilorin, the governor said it was in fulfillment of his pledge.
According to him, “the SME funding we promised the market association is ready for collection and also other support required by the different associations in form of buses, secretariat and other minor supports, would be attended to”.
The Governor said members of the artisan groups would be patronised under the forthcoming State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) projects in order to enhance the economic status and wellbeing of their members.
He appealed to all associations and groups to work hand-in-hand with the Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) to make tax collection in the state easy and to also ensure that taxes are applied to the benefit of contributors.
The Governor gave assurance that the interactive meetings would be held on monthly basis to review activities, stressing that governance requires inclusiveness.
Earlier, the Director-General, Bureau of SME in the State, Mr Segun Soewu, had recalled that about N2.2billion had been committed to SME in the state while the National Secretary of NURTW, Alhaji AbdulRasheed Aliu appealed to the government to put an end to illegal registration of taxis as a way of eliminating crimes in the State.
Also, the Iyaloja-in-General for the State, Alhaja Adenike Ibrahim requested the governor to redeem the promise of N100million SME funding and commended him for the developmental projects across the State.
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