By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, yesterday charged regulatory agencies to eliminate overlaps and align their actions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda for economic growth and improved ease of doing business in Nigeria.
The Vice President said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains committed to streamlining the regulatory environment in Nigeria.
The Vice President said this is crucial in driving the coordination, transparency, and global competitiveness required for the nation’s economic transformation.
Shettima stated this during the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Regulators’ Forum to build an effective Regulatory Impact Framework (RIA) for Nigeria, which was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to him, the administration’s journey towards a “regulatory system built on trust, consistency, and collaboration” is ongoing and requires” all and sundry to remain committed.”
The Vice President implored the government regulators to be “willing to reinvent processes and innovate, guiding Nigeria towards a future where we are not economically disadvantaged but positioned to thrive.
“Our duty to the private sector is to listen, process their concerns, and develop solutions that drive growth. In recent months, there have been pockets of complaints regarding certain directives from our regulatory agencies. I have personally intervened on several occasions to ensure we are not hampered by conflict but instead move forward with unity and purpose,” he added.
Underscoring the importance of streamlining the regulatory system, the VP said, “The success of this forum today does not solely depend on our ability to collaborate, share knowledge, and align our regulatory actions with the broader national agenda.
“It also depends on our capacity to recognise and address criticisms and shortcomings, while striving for a nation that does not feel like a battlefield for businesses, but a place where investors can thrive without fear of unnecessary hurdles.”
VP Shettima charged the regulators to heed President Tinubu’s call to action, noting that the President envisions a country where regulatory excellence drives economic growth, attracts investment, and ultimately improves the quality of life for all citizens.
He continued, “Time and again, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reassured the business community of his commitment to easing any bottlenecks they may encounter, and each regulator here must adopt the same mindset in their dealings with private enterprises.
“The work of PEBEC, mainly through initiatives like the Regulatory Reform Accelerator, has been pivotal in reducing the obstacles businesses face.
“Today’s forum offers an unparalleled opportunity to address these issues head-on and chart a new course towards regulatory cohesion. This is not merely an event but a defining moment for us to reflect on the duties we owe our nation.”
On the task ahead, Senator Shettima urged participants at the meeting to recognise the gravity of their role as regulators.
His words, “Your actions do not stop at your desks; they have ripple effects that can shape or disrupt policies, influence investment decisions, and, most critically, impact the daily lives of Nigerians who rely on a stable and efficient economy.
“As such, this forum provides an invaluable opportunity to take ownership of the crucial reforms needed to eliminate regulatory overlaps, misalignments, and contradictions that often cause unnecessary delays and burdens on businesses.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, outlined PEBEC’s 2024 outlook, highlighting Nigeria’s business and investment climate reforms through its five strategic pillars, comprising regulatory, judicial, and legislative reforms, among others.
He said the forum’s deliberations and actions would be aligned with national economic goals that can make Nigeria a more attractive destination for business and investment.
“Through your participation and active contributions, this Forum will play a pivotal role in transforming Nigeria’s regulatory landscape, ensuring that it enhances our global business competitiveness,” Senator Hadejia noted.
Also, Special Adviser to the President on Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, noted that regulators must act as enablers, evolving to support and nurture the very ecosystem they oversee.
“Regulators should be assessed based on the health of the businesses under them. If the businesses are dying, the regulator should be concerned,” she said.
She quoted David Cameron, the former Prime Minister of the UK, who stated in the 2015 Better Regulation Framework Manual, “We need to tackle regulation with vigour to free businesses to compete and create jobs, and give people greater freedom. I want us to be the first Government in modern history to leave office having reduced the overall burden of regulation rather than increasing it.”
The heads of federal government regulatory agencies present at the PEBEC meeting included the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Others are the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).
