Wike hosts Reps, vows to support SMES, create jobs

The Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has stated that he will continue to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to enhance economic development of the state.

Speaking when he granted audience to the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday evening, Governor Wike noted that his administration has already worked with the CBN to support SMEs through grants.

He said: “As a state government, we have taken steps to support and improve SMEs in the state. Everything will be done to encourage entrepreneurship through legislation. Support for SMEs will empower more people and create jobs that will sustain a greater percentage of our people. We will continue to invest in SMEs.”

The governor charged all politicians in leadership positions to use their offices to impact the lives of the people.

The governor regretted that, the CBN has been starving Rivers State economy of funds on political grounds.

He commended the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency and the Central Bank of Nigeria for coming to the state for their retreat, saying that they have emulated other groups who found the state a worthy host of important events.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency, Mr. Jones Onyereri, said that the retreat was necessary to forge a formidable front to build a framework that would grow the middle= class.

He noted that the right steps had been taken to build SMEs, which were necessary to empower the people and create jobs.

Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Suleiman Baro, said the essence of the retreat was to facilitate the oversight function of the National Assembly.

He said that the CBN would continue to work with the National Assembly to strengthen the fiscal and monetary framework for the economic development of the country.

AMAKA AGBU PORTHARCOURT