The Bauchi State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, like similar ministries in other states of the Federation, is the organ through which the state government promotes, co-ordinates, regulates and implements policies relating to commerce, industry and solid minerals development. But unlike other states, the Ministry lays more emphasis on ensuring vibrant private sector participation in the commercial and industrial development of the state. This is because commercial and industrial activities in the state are largely private sector-led; the state government only acts as a motivator and coordinator to the various private individuals and organisations involved. In this regard, the state government attaches great importance to the Ministry because its roles are very vital and crucial to the economic growth and development of the state
The Mallam Isa Yuguda-led administration in Bauchi has since inception been consistent on its continued effort to deliver on its campaign promises of making Bauchi an industrial State through the Ministry. One of the ways it has been doing this is by aggressively rehabilitating ailing industries across the State.Thus the administration has been able to fully bring back to life hitherto comatose state-owned companies like the Bauchi Meat production company, Bauchi Fertilizer company, Alind Nigeria Limited,Arewa ceramic, Nigeria Asbestos Limited,Bauchi Plastic Industry and the multi-million naira Steyr Company as well as the procurement of former Hinterland furniture company for the state.
A brief look at the various directorates of the Ministry would give an insight into the functions and the achievements recorded so far since the administration’s innovative effort at using the Ministry to better the lives of the people through commercial and industrial development activities.
The Directorate of Administration and Finance has as part of its responsibilities organised seminars and workshops in order to enable every category of staff to acquire the necessary knowledge, skill, and confidence to perform the roles expected of them. To this end, a good number of staff were sponsored to attend various seminars and workshops locally and internationally. The Ministry recently sponsored an International Forum to India, the United Kingdom, the United States and Spain.
The Directorate of Planning, Research and Statistics is responsible for the co-ordination of all Planning, Research and Statistics activities of all the other Directorates and establishments under the supervision of the Ministry. In addition to preparing annual budget estimates for the ministry, budgetary performance of each Directorate is monitored and evaluated by the Directorate through monthly progress reports submitted by each Directorate. As a result of this, when problems are identified, researches are conducted with a view to finding out the nature of the problems and their possible solutions.
In view of its strategic roles in project formulation, feasibility studies and appraisal, the Directorate also liaises with other relevant bodies within and outside the state that are responsible for economic planning. The result of this alliance is the state government’s prudent management of the state’s resources, for which the Yugudu administration is becoming renowned.
The Directorate of Commerce is not left out in contributing to the giant strides of the administration, especially in the area of commerce. Charged with the responsibility of implementing government policies relating to commercial activities in the state, it operates through the four administrative units; Distributive Trade, Registration of Occupation and Business Premises, Trade Promotion and Export Promotion.
Through the Distributive Trade Unit, the sum of N2.38 Billion was recently approved as a start-up capital to a new loan scheme which was designed to involve commercial enterprises who under normal circumstances would not have access to banking facilities due to lack of collateral. And right now plans are under way to release and disburse same to Trade Unions and Associations. In fact, a Loan Management Committee has already been inaugurated to manage the scheme.
Petroleum products are very central to the development of any economy. That is why fuel distribution to the state is currently being monitored by the State Petroleum Products Price Monitoring Committee. And, for effective monitoring and supervision, the functions and the Secretariat of the Committee will come under the ministry.
During a recent assessment tour to the strategic fuel reserve located at Gubi Dam site, it was discovered that the reserve has ten 66,000 litres and two 30,000 litres tanks for fuel storage to be used by the government during scarcity.
Another important section under the Ministry of Commerce is the Investment Development Section, which coordinates all the activities of Bauchi Investment Corporation and liaises with similar bodies outside the State. The section is undertaking a lot of projects aimed at boosting the investment potential of the state, including updating for publication, the state Investment Potential booklet that was published last since 1992. As investment strategy, the management of Lagos Liaison office has been taken over by the Bauchi Investment Corporation as approved by the Yuguda administration.
Just as the Ministry of Commerce uses the Distributive Trade Unit to develop the investment potential of the state, so it uses the registration of Occupation and Business Premises unit to generate revenue. Specifically, the unit is mandated to register and collect revenue on registration and renewal of registration of occupation and business premises.
But due to some factors, the unit had not been performing well. For instance, from January to June last year, the unit was able to collect only 883,300 Naira. The factors included lack of adequate working materials and support to effect the edict establishing the unit. To address this, the edict has been submitted to the Ministry of Justice to effect minor corrections for further action. Another problem hampering the effectiveness of the unit is lack of assigned transport facility at the disposal of the unit, insufficient imprest to cover the unit’s operation in all the 20 Local Government Areas of the state. In view of these enumerated problems the Yuguda administration has engaged the services of a consulting firm to partner with the unit towards enhancing revenue generation in the state.
The Trade Promotion Unit being the trade fair section, organizes and co-ordinates state participation in trade fairs and exhibition for both domestic and international fairs. Through the efforts of the unit, the Ministry of Commerce has participated in the Kaduna International Trade Fair, Abuja Special Trade Fair and Niger State Trade Fair last year.Also, the state hosted the 14th Joint Domestic Trade Fair of the NorthEast Region from 18th - 25th October, 2008. The sum of NI2,084,015 million was released by the state government as its own financial contribution to the Bauchi Chamber of Commerce towards organizing the fair.
The Export Promotion Unit, which is charged with the responsibility of encouraging producers of various commodities for export, is also one of the vital sections of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that the Yuguda administration uses to promote export trades in the sate. The unit has done much in this regard. For instance, through it the state recently organized a one-day workshop, in collaboration with Nigerian Export Promotion Council, for registered exporters and the business community with a theme "Export for Beginners", at Zaranda Hotel. The State also attended an "Expert Group Meeting" on Neem Tree utilization in Abuja organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on the strengthening of SouthSouth cooperati