On the 1st of October 2020, President Buhari launched the Artisan/Transport scheme under the Survival fund program. 333,000 artisans and transport businesses will be provided with 30 thousand Naira Grant each to reduce the effect of income loss during a pandemic.
The following clusters have been identified as targets:
ARTISAN CLUSTER
Mechanics Associations and unions
Barbers and hair stylist Associations and unions
Bricklayer Associations and Unions
Tailoring Associations and Unions
Plumber Associations and Unions
Carpenters’ Associations and Unions
TRANSPORT CLUSTER
Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)
Keke Riders’ Association
Okada Riders’ Associations and Unions
Punch reports, The Federal Government, on Thursday, formally inaugurated the artisans and transport sector track of the N75bn MSME Survival Fund and Guaranteed Off-take Stimulus Scheme.
A total of 333,000 artisans and transporters across the country are to benefit from grants provided by the scheme.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Miriam Katagum, who flagged off the scheme in Abuja, said 9,009 beneficiaries each from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory would benefit from the scheme.
She said the scheme would leverage duly registered and recognised associations so that members of the bodies would attest to the transparency and effectiveness of the exercise.
She explained that the artisans and transport support scheme was designed to provide 333,000 artisans and transport business operators with a N30,000 operations grant.
Katagum said the grant would help reduce the effect of income loss during the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant lockdown.
She said special focus would be given to 45 per cent female-owned micro, small and medium enterprises and five per cent special needs owned MSMEs.
Katagum said the grants would go to self-employed individuals, especially service providers such as bus drivers, taxi drivers, rideshare drivers and artisans, including electricians and plumbers.
The minister further noted that beginning from Monday next week, the free registration of 250,000 new businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission would commence.
“This will be at no cost to the MSMEs. The Federal Government will pay CAC N6,000 for each registration and this is under the formalisation support and it is for all MSMEs that require formalisation,” Katagum stated.
She urged artisans and transport business operators to take advantage of the scheme, adding that the government would need them to have valid accounts with banks in order to effectively benefit from the grants.
Source: https://punchng.com/fg-inaugurates-survival-fund-for-333000-artisans-transporters/
[…] stated this at the activation of the Artisan Scheme of the MSME Survival Fund by the Bank of Industry in Bariga area of Lagos on […]