Yemisi Izuora
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the present administration is poised to actively promote the participation of the private sector in the nation’s strategic economic agenda.
The Minister stated this when he inaugurated the Stakeholders
Engagement Committee of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) in
Abuja on Tuesday.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me use this opportunity to
reiterate that the current administration of President Muhammadu
Buhari recognizes and actively promotes the participation of the
private sector in the strategic economic agenda of the nation.
“This pro-business posture of the government is eminently reflected in
the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of this government,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said the government will continue to create an
enabling environment for private businesses to thrive and build
economic prosperity for the generality of Nigerians, including the
provision of critical infrastructure through Public Private
Partnership.
Expressing delight at the caliber of members of the committee, he
enjoined them to do everything possible to ensure that the committee
lives up to its responsibilities by ensuring that it identifies and
maintains contacts with various stakeholders and opinion leaders; and
advises the Council accordingly.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Bureau of Public
Enterprises, Mr. Alex Okoh, said in the last 30 years, over 140 public
enterprises across various sectors of the economy have been fully or
partially privatized or fully or partially commercialized or
concessioned.
“Of these privatized enterprises, over 60% have achieved a good level
of performance. The generation companies are performing very well. I
can also tell you that the seaports are performing despite some
infrastructural constraints,” he said.
Mr. Okoh said the importance of an effective stakeholders’ engagement
strategy cannot be over-emphasized, in view of the need to build
support and understanding for the Federal Government’s reform agenda
by effectively communicating the benefits of the privatization
programme.
The committee, chaired by the Minister of Information and Culture, has
the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr. Garba
Abari; Iyalode Alaba Lawson, the President of NACCIMA; Mr. Ben Upah of
NLC, Auwal Musa from the Civil Society; Mr. Maxwell Loko of the
Nigerian Television Authority; Olaniyi Omodara of the National Human
Rights Commission and Mr. Uchola of the Federal Ministry of Industry,
Trade and Investment as some of the members.