• Shettima to deliver Nigeria’s address at 79th Assembly
• FG tasks regulatory agencies on EoDB
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York this year; hence, he has directed Vice President KashimShettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.
While Shettima is delivering Nigeria’s address at the Assembly, Tinubu will be in the country attending to domestic matters.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has charged regulatory agencies to eliminate overlaps and align their actions with the administration’s agenda for economic growth and improved Ease of Doing Business (EoDB).
According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President, who returned to the country on Sunday from China and the United Kingdom, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the Assembly, attend important sideline events and hold bilateral meetings.
“The high-level General Debate, with the theme ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations’, will run from September 24 to 28, 2024,” the statement reads.
SHETTIMA spoke in Abuja during the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Regulators’ Forum to build an effective Regulatory Impact Framework (RIA) for Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, where he assured that the administration remained committed to streamlining the regulatory environment in Nigeria.
This, according to the VP, is crucial in driving the coordination, transparency and global competitiveness required for the country’s economic transformation.
The present administration’s journey towards a “regulatory system built on trust, consistency and collaboration, according to him, is ongoing, adding that it is a journey that requires all and sundry to remain committed.
He implored the 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 clear: 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 many 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.”
Charging the regulators to heed the government’s call to action, he noted that “the leadership envisions a country where regulatory excellence drives economic growth, attracts investment and ultimately improves the quality of life” for all citizens.
Special Adviser to the President on PEBEC and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, noted that regulators must act as enablers, evolving to support and nurture the ecosystem they oversee.
She quoted David Cameron, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (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.”
