The Federal Government should look inwards and enlist the services of professionals to ensure the development of the nation’s economy.
The plea is coming from the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, APBN, an umbrella body of professionals in the country, during the association’s first board meeting sponsored by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN,
APBN President/Chairman of Board and Council, Surv. Akinloye Oyegbola, called for the involvement of more local professionals in preferring solutions to the challenges bedeviling the country.
Oyegbola who is the seventeenth President said the Body is seeking further cooperation with the government to proffer solutions to the myriads of challenges confronting the country.
According to him, the APBN is made up of over thirty professionals in Nigeria including; NSE, ICAN, NITP, NIA, PSN, CIBN, NIS, NMA, NMGS, CIPM, CIS, NIQS, NIOB, NIESV, NIM, ANAN, ICSAN, IPAN, ICCON, NCS, CITN, CIIN, CIA, AMLSN, CIPSMN, NVMA NIMN, IMCON, NBA and NIPR.
He noted that besides the above list, many other notable professional bodies are still signifying their intentions to be part of this noble ‘family’.
ON PETROLEUM PRODUCTS SCARCITY,
In recent weeks, major cities across the country have been hit by scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). While we have no problem with the excuse offered by the government for the cause of the scarcity, the recent experience re-emphasizes the need for local production of petrol. We must revive our refineries. We believe this is the way out of the incessant cases of petrol scarcity.
Although, the situation is gradually getting back to normal, but we call on relevant government agencies to investigate individuals involved in the importation of adulterated petrol and if found culpable, should be sanctioned.
The Economic losses due to this scarcity is massive. Many Nigerians spent long hours queuing up in petrol stations. While others could not go to work due to inflation in transportation cost.
ON INSECURITY
The issue of insecurity has been a major concern. You would recall that one of the issues that came up at the Board’s meeting in December 2021, and which formed part of the issues communicated to you was the issue of insecurity. It also formed a major thrust of the Board’s last deliberations; because of the seeming intractability of this issue. The nation’s economy is being stunted, and may not attract the much-needed investments as long as there are these palpable feelings of insecurity in the land. The Board urges the federal government to sustain its onslaught against bandits, kidnappers and criminal elements across the country.
ON THE NATION’S ECONOMY
The Board is also concern with the free fall of the naira against the dollar. While we are aware that the government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is doing its best to get the naira stable, we see the situation as a worrisome one.
ON HIGH COST OF FOOD
The astronomically increase in cost of food, is becoming worrisome. Our country is fast degenerating into a land plagued with hunger. We call on government to put in measures to halt this trend.
This high cost of food prices could be attributable to several factors that are not limited to gross devaluation of the Naira against major currencies, displacement of farmers by bandits and terrorist, inconsistent policies of Government, etc. we urge government to intensify efforts to ensure that Nigerians have access to affordable food.
ONASUU STRIKE
We wish to state that the current industrial impasse which has led to the ongoing warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), is very unfortunate.
In order to protect the future of our youths whose academic life is being disrupted, we urge the Federal Government to implement agreements it entered with ASUU.
ON PRESIDENTIAL ASSENT TO ELECTORAL ACT
The delay by President Buhari in signing the 2021 Electoral Amendment Bill calls for concern.
Recall that in 2018, President Buhari failed to assent to the bill as amended then with the excuse that the time was too close to the 2019 General Election.
The delay until this time confirmed the fears that the provisions envisaged by the citizens and expectations thereof may be dashed by the actions of the President. Laws are made in the interest and benefit of the people and not for those in power.
It is our belief that the 2021 Electoral Bill which seeks to repeal the 2010 Electoral Act as amended is a means to improve the electoral process in Nigeria.
We urge the President to sign the Electoral Amendment Bill into law to enable INEC commence adequate preparation for the 2023 General election.
ON AfCFTA
While it is noteworthy that the country eventually signed into this trade agreement, we however believe that by now, the country should have finished crossing the I’s and dotting the t’s, of the trade agreement. As the continent’s largest economy, we believe that Nigeria has a huge role to play in making the African Continental Free Trade Agreement deal to work.
AfCFTA provides free movement of goods and services within the markets of countries that are signatories to the agreement. Signatories to the deal have the opportunity of exploring the continent’s over 1.2billion market.
We will like to implore the federal government to encourage Nigerian brands and investors, to leverage this deal to expand their business frontiers and enhance the nation’s economy.
ON VACCINATE MORE NIGERIANS.
You would recall that the Board made a passionate appeal to government at the three tiers and every Nigerian, at the last meeting, on the need to frontally tackle the public health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Board is again using this forum to remind critical stakeholders in Project Nigeria that it is not yet uhuru, as far as the deadly virus is concerned in Nigeria.
Our charge to Nigerians at this time is that they should not let down their guards yet.
COVID 19, despite its seeming disappearing act in this part of the globe, still constitutes a major threat to lives, businesses and economies. We should still adhere strictly to those protocols, as advised by the health authorities.
ON MAKING USE OF NIGERIAN PROFESSIONALS
I think this issue can never be over-flogged. Any economy that wants to develop must find a way of enlisting the services of its professionals. We believe the Nigerian governments – national and sub-nationals, are not doing that enough.
The Board will, therefore, like to use this opportunity to ones again call on those in government to begin to look inwards. For instance, APBN boasts of an array of qualified professionals, that can rub shoulders with their peers anywhere in the world, and we are very ready for national assignments.
The body noted at the meeting “Any economy that wants to develop must find a way of enlisting the services of its professionals. We believe the Nigerian governments – national and sub-nationals, are not doing that enough.
The Board will, therefore, like to use this opportunity to once again call on those in government to begin to look inwards. For instance, APBN boasts of an array of qualified professionals, that can rub shoulders with their peers anywhere in the world, and we are very ready for national assignments”.
Underscoring the year 2022 as it precedes the 2023 election year, the President noted that APBN as the umbrella Association of all recognized and chartered professional Institutes, Institutions, Associations and Societies in Nigeria presently made up 30 professional bodies, expects to see more political activities in the months ahead and has high hopes that campaigns will be devoid of hate speeches and languages that may heat up the polity while advising that “the government will not abandon governance for politics”.
The Association showed its displeasure with the current scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Although, the body claimed it has “no problem with the excuse offered by the government for the cause of the scarcity”, it, however, noted that the recent experience re-emphasizes the need for local production of petrol. “We must revive our refineries. We believe this is the way out of the incessant cases of petrol scarcity”, the President said, while calling on relevant government agencies “to investigate individuals involved in the importation of adulterated petrol and if found culpable, should be sanctioned” as it noted that the economic losses due to this scarcity are massive.
As the umbrella body for not less than 30 chartered institutes and professional bodies and associations, issues on the nation’s economy and the high cost of food are also of critical concern to APBN. Hence, the President noted with concern the “free fall of the naira against the dollar” and “astronomically increase in the cost of food” describing the situations as “worrisome”.
“Our country is fast degenerating into a land plagued with hunger. We call on the government to put in place measures to halt this trend and intensify efforts to ensure that Nigerians have access to affordable food”, Mr. Oyegbola enthused.
Also on the issue of insecurity, the Association had revealed in its 2021 December Board meeting considered the seemingly intractable nature of the country’s security as stifling the nation’s economy and “may not attract the much-needed investments as long as there are these palpable feelings of insecurity in the land”. The Board, therefore, urged the federal government to sustain its onslaught against bandits, kidnappers and criminal elements across the country.
As the continent’s largest economy, APBN also advised that the federal government must provide opportunities and incentives that will spur Nigerian investors and brands to leverage the over $1.2billion African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) market deal to expand their business frontiers and enhance the nation’s economy.
Earlier in his welcome address the host of the meeting, President/Chairman in Council, ICSAN, Taiwo Owokalade, while expressing his association’s love and respect for APBN, especially for the opportunity to host the Board Meeting, advised members that “APBN is not strong when members do not support the body”.
According to the ICSAN President, when APBN is strong, the government will often defer to the body on important national issues, unlike the current situation when the government speaks to individual professional bodies, and most often, it ends in chaos.
He noted that only deliberate advocacy can make the body become a dependable and powerful voice.
Some of the key personalities and Presidents of the professional Associations and bodies present at the Board Meeting include Secretary-General, APBN; Lanre Olusola, President, ICAN; Comfort Eyitayo, FCA, CIBN President; Bayo Olugbemi, APBN’s immediate past president Olumuyiwa Ajibola, and Registrar/CEO, ICSAN Taiwo Olusesi, among others.
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