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Ease of Doing Business: Osinbajo charges MDAs to ensure implementation of NAP 7.0
As part of efforts geared towards creating an enabling environment for businesses in Nigeria, Vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has charged Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals (MDAs) to ensure the implementation of reforms of the National Action Plan (NAP) 7.0 of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
A statement signed by the special Adviser to the President on the Ease of Doing business, Dr Jumoke Oduwole revealed that Prof. Osinbajo stated this at the presidential villa, when he received the progress report of the Council after the ongoing NAP 7.0 reached mid-way point (30 days) in its 60-day cycle.
NAP 7.0 is the 7th in the series of a 60-day accelerator, designed to coordinate the effective delivery of priority reforms of selected MDAs annually to deliver key reforms under five categories namely; trade/port reforms, automation reforms, regulatory reforms, legislative/judiciary reforms and Executive Order 001/Reportgov.ng tracking and compliance.
PEBEC had commenced NAP 7.0 on February 7 to drive the implementation of these key reforms and as at day 30(March 8) of the NAP 7.0, the reforms had a 22 percent completion rate.
The Vice president in the statement stressed the need for a business friendly environment that will attract investors and business owners while creating jobs and reducing poverty for citizens.
“We’re at a very critical stage, we’re losing money and there is need to create an environment that allows business to be held” Prof Yemi Osinbajo said.
While the vice president noted that the mid-term report is very detailed to the specific issues, he urged for urgency in addressing them.
Referencing the commitment of the Buhari administration to improving the economy, the VP stated that implementing “these reforms are vital” towards further improving the country’s business environment.
“This is why we must have these reforms. It is also important that all the procedure reforms can be put in place. At meetings like this, issues that should be resolved are escalated for onward resolutions; and those things that need to be done have to be done,” he said.
Prof Osinbajo also stated that an outline of the escalations would be included in a document, and that a contact would be made with the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies that operate as a constraint on the ongoing NAP 7.0 progress.
It would be recalled that the Vice President had stated during the PEBEC 5th anniversary event in December 2021 that a more aggressive accountability audit of various Federal Government agencies will be undertaken so as to identify and remove bureaucratic bottlenecks.
In her presentation, Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, pointed out that there are 58 reforms for implementation under NAP 7.0 which will run from 7th February to 7th April 2022.
“So, we really need to drill down on those escalations and to hold agencies accountable and to encourage them to push more to deliver these reforms for Nigerians,” she stated.
The Council however appeal to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) , Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) , and Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to make linkage easier for exporters and reduce the cumbersome delays and expensive costs in delivering goods.
Representatives from the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and the National Ports Authority called for the checkpoints to be reduced since they are a barrier to exporters.
The National Action Plan was introduced for the first time in February 2017 and has since become a signature homegrown 60-day accelerator and reform tool designed by PEBEC to coordinate the effective delivery of priority reforms of select ministries, departments and agencies annually.
Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Jibrin Isah Echocho, has congratulated Muslim faithful for the successful completion of this year Ramadan fast, urging them to celebrate the Sallah in love, and unity across our communities.
Echocho in a statement madeavailable to CAPITALPOST in Lokoja o Sunday, described the Ramadan period as stressful, but deserving, because it is the only period for spiritual reflection on abstinence from immorality, sincere sacrifice and supplications to Allah.
He added that, Ramadan symbolises Allah’s way of teaching humanity on virtuous living, where people keep away from all forms of comfort to appreciate what the less privileged experience and deprivation they suffers daily.
He task Muslims to extend the lessons of Ramadan to the way we live with our neighbours.
“Let’s seek peace at all times and promote unity of purpose in our society” the Lawmaker demanded.
“May the celebration brings sustainable peace to our homes, my district, Kogi State and Nigeria, he concluded.
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has commended Senator Basheer Lado, for redefining the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, stating that, for the first time in a long while, the office is fully meeting its expectations.
Speaking during his visit to the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters accompanied by distinguished senators, Akpabio described the visit as a significant step in strengthening Executive-Legislative relations.
He praised the Special Adviser and his team for maintaining the confidentiality of communications between the President and Senate, and also, ensuring a seamless flow of information. He further emphasized that the office is now more result-oriented.
Additionally, he acknowledged the office’s diligent efforts in tracking all Bills passed by the Senate and assented to by the President, underscoring its critical role in legislative efficiency.
Expressing his satisfaction, Akpabio noted that he and the Senate delegation were proud of the office’s achievements and looked forward to sustaining the existing cordial and productive relationship between the Executive and the Legislature throughout the administration.
In recognition of his exemplary leadership, Senator Lado presented an Award of Excellence to Senator Akpabio.
In his remarks, Senator Lado reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a harmonious working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. He lauded Akpabio for his unwavering dedication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—defending it with clarity, articulating it with passion, and advancing it through legislative action.
Ahead of the 2025 political party Congresses, Plateau State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) stakeholders has endorsed the defection of the candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections and the leader of Justice and Rebirth, Barr Gyang Zi SAN, to the All Progressive Congress (APC) with the view to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
They made the call in a communique issued at the end of the enlarge meeting of the stakeholders from Plateau North senatorial zone at the residence of Barr. Gyang Zi in Rayfield Jos.
The communique which was jointly signed by Dr. Ayiki Sati Director General, Justice and Rebirth and
Barr. Samuel Galadima- 2024 Chairmanship candidate of Jos East LGA among others said the call became imperative on the sideline of the leadership tussle at the National Level which violates the core principles and values for the formation of the Party as an alternative for Nigeria for the protection, sustenance of democracy and Social Justice.
They regretted that the leadership tussle has also divided the party into factions leaving party loyalists and supporters in the state of despondency and confusion not knowing where they belong.
Our correspondent reports that the gathering included LP candidates from the 2023/2024 general elections, party executives, and support groups from the six local government areas of the Northern Senatorial District.
Besides, the focus of the discussions was centered on the state of the Labour Party at both national and state levels and the need for political realignment ahead of the 2025 party congresses and conventions.
The stakeholders further frowned at the structural weaknesses in LP and resolved to advise Barr Gyang Zi, to leave the party and join the APC while expressing confidence that the APC would provide him with a platform to advance good governance in the state .
The communique also emphasized the importance of political consultations, particularly with APC leaders at both state and national levels. It called for collaboration with Plateau State APC leaders, including Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, Sen. Simon Bako Lalong, Sen. Diket Plang, and other party officials.
According to the communique, supporters of Barr Gyang Zi also pledged to mobilize grassroots support for the APC, stating that their leader’s defection would strengthen the party in the state.
They urged the APC leadership to formally receive Gyang Zi and his supporters into the party, marking their official transition from the Labour Party.
Stakeholders also reiterated the need for inclusive governance, ensuring that youths, women, and less privileged individuals are sidelined in the democratic process and accordingly officially denounced their membership in the Labour Party, declaring their support for the APC.
They assured that all LP structures aligned with Gyang Zi would follow suit, shifting their loyalty to the ruling party in the state and at the National level.
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