The Plateau State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ephraim Usman, stated that Governor Caleb Mutfwang-led administration is committed to enhancing small businesses through significant assistance.
Usman made this statement during a speech at an entrepreneurship and stakeholders meeting in Jos, the state capital, on Saturday.
He mentioned that the state government had already dedicated resources to properly identifying businesses and community-based organizations in order to gather reliable data for government intervention and other beneficial purposes.
He also highlighted that the state government had invested in reducing business risks by providing firefighting equipment, expanding markets and parking lots, and implementing a smart tax system to simplify and make the payment process flexible for businesses.
The commissioner stated, “In Plateau State, the importance of small and medium enterprises for the growth and development of our people, particularly in the community and/or rural areas, is a top priority for the governor.
“Therefore, it is the government's top priority to address poverty, unemployment, and social issues among the population through constructive re-engineering of the state’s economy.
“Infrastructure that supports small and medium enterprises is being improved, conflicts that previously posed threats to businesses, including agro-sector enterprises, are being addressed, and significant reorganizations in the transportation and entrepreneurship sectors are becoming key aspects of the government's policy direction in tackling the socio-economic challenges of the people in the state.
“The government acknowledges the presence of under-represented and marginalized entrepreneurs across the 17 local governments. These vulnerable groups include women, minorities, and individuals from low-income backgrounds involved in various small businesses.
“However, one of the key questions that must be addressed in these discussions is: how can we form partnerships with community organizations and non-profits to support the under-represented and marginalized entrepreneurs on the Plateau?”
The commissioner further stated that “as a government, we are determined through the governor's seven-point agenda to tackle the challenges associated with the business environment and focus on improving the ease of doing business on the Plateau.”
He also urged small business owners to create alliances and cooperatives to facilitate their access to government intervention.
