The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) has called upon the Federal Government to create a conducive environment for businesses to flourish, considering the recent trend of multinational divestments to neighboring countries.
ICSAN President, Funmi Ekundayo, emphasized the importance of the government’s support in removing obstacles that hinder the private sector’s operations during a media briefing in Lagos. Ekundayo stressed the significance of establishing conditions that enable better socio-economic satisfaction for citizens within a reasonable time frame.
Given the prevailing challenges, Ekundayo advocated for increased government intervention to alleviate the impact of inflation on citizens. She highlighted the need for accountability from the government, urging them to address areas where they are falling short while emphasizing the importance of leading by example.
Expressing optimism about the economy’s potential resurgence, Ekundayo urged the government to direct the funds from fuel subsidies toward infrastructural development, aiming for tangible and swift benefits for the populace. She stressed the necessity for the government to pivot the narrative, ensuring that Nigerians, especially the youth, remain in the country.
Discussing the impending review of the National Minimum Wage, she recommended inclusive engagement with stakeholders such as labour unions and pensioners to arrive at a fair proposition.
Ekundayo praised the timely release of the 2024 Appropriation Bill by President Bola Tinubu, emphasizing the need for the National Assembly to conduct rigorous oversight to ensure that revenue-generating Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) meet their targets.
She emphasized the urgency for a complete overhaul of the public sector, highlighting the lack of systematic planning, poor policy implementation, and subpar service delivery. She stressed the need for a comprehensive reassessment to enhance operational efficiency, introduce checks and balances, combat corruption, and improve service delivery.
Ekundayo also emphasized the importance of the prompt and effective implementation of Executive Orders, urging the government to address factors hindering policy success, such as inaccurate statistics, knowledge gaps, corruption, and ineffective controls.
