By Chibuzo Ihegboro
THE Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) have reached an agreement to collaborate to ensure a seamless implementation of the ongoing reforms by the Federal Government, especially with regard to immigration matters.
Addressing journalists yesterday, after a meeting with NECA and other stakeholders in Ikeja, Lagos, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed that the issues discussed at the meeting included the reforms that border on the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), expatriate quota, business permit, border control, among others.
He said that the meeting resolved to set up a committee that will work behind the scene to fine-tune the discussions on the issues so far, adding that the most important thing is to take decisions that will not discourage investments but at the same time protect the interest of Nigeria.
He said: “We understand, as it is popularly said, that you can’t clap with one hand. The public sector cannot do it all on its own. So, we need strategic partnership with NECA and the affiliate organisations like Organised Private Sector (OPTS), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and also other bodies like the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). So, we need to cooperate to take decisions as a team because what is important to us is what is important to them. And what is that? The interest of Nigerians and the interest of our country.
“This is our country and we believe that we can achieve the seemingly unachievable when we are united. So, I think we are united in our approach; we are united in our understanding. We have shared values and that makes discussion easy. So, Nigerians can be rest assured that the Ministry of Interior, in line with its citizenship and business responsibility, is actively collaborating with the private sector.”
The minister stated that it was also agreed that the meeting should not be a one-off thing, noting that it would henceforth be held at least twice a year “so they can talk to us about their concern, especially as it affects their businesses, while we as government can also strategise and programme our workflow to align with the things that will make the organise private sector to prosper more for the benefit of Nigeria.”
Tunji-Ojo, who described the meeting as “a blunt family meeting”, appreciated NECA for voicing out their concerns to the government.
He promised that the planned committee would be set up within the next one week, noting that “after that we will come up with reforms that everybody will be happy with.”
On his part, the Director General of NECA, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, commended the minister for availing the association the opportunity to engage with the ministry.
His words: “One of the things we have done today is to engage constructively in a frank manner. We are all stakeholders in the Nigeria project. We want to commend the current government for opening up the channels of engagement. The most beautiful part of it is the consensus that there will be a committee to review a couple of things. We want to appeal to Mr. President to direct that ministries and agencies should do this consistently. It makes the work easier. It makes growth faster. It makes implementation and compliance even seamless within the context of the private sector.”