As a palliative intervention, the Kaduna state government has disclosed plans to empower 4,200 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the state.
The measure is meant to cushion the effects of the removal of petroleum fuel subsidies and the rising inflation, according to the state governor Mallam Uba Sani in an interview with TVC.
While speaking on the recent protests by citizens in some parts of the country against the current economic situation, he explained that his government was already engaging the organised labour, market women and even NGOs on how to manage the situation.
He said; “Prior to these latest agitations, I predicted that this situation may come up. That’s why I am the only governor that signed an Executive Order on financial inclusion to bring about 2.5 million vulnerable, underserved people back into the financial services sector.
“We have also been able to organise about 4,200 SMEs in Kaduna State and in the next one week, we have decided to support them with palliatives worth about N4.2 billion, which will also go directly to vulnerable households and some small businesses that we have captured.
“Additionally, over 1.5m people have been brought back into the financial sector since the signing of the Executive Order on Financial Inclusion in Kaduna State.
 “We are proactive in Kaduna State and that is why the labour unions are supportive of what we are doing because we run an open government.
“Even before the budget presentation to the Kaduna State House of Assembly, we held town halls where I insisted that we could not decide on what we would do for the people of Kaduna without their direct input.Â
“Also, at the town halls, we emphasised the decision to run an open government and that’s the reason why we budgeted N22 billion for agriculture, the first in the history of Kaduna and this was based on the input we received directly from our people and this is why we are on the same page with our people.”