Osinbajo, Saraki, Dogara, CJN, governors, others to consider new initiatives on ease of doing business today

THE Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, will today host the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to a meeting on the National Action Plan on Ease of Doing Business.

The meeting, which will hold in the Presidential villa, Abuja, the Presidency said is to consider new and specific initiatives to be implemented over a 60day period in the National Action Plan 2.0.

A statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande yesterday said the expanded PEBEC meeting will also be attended by the Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen. Also expected at the meeting are two state governors, Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) and Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), as well as the Acting Director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control, who was invited to the session, based on stakeholder feedback.

A previous 60-day National Action Plan on Ease of Doing Business was approved on February 21, 2017.

The National Action Plan contained initiatives and actions implemented by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAS), the National Assembly, the governments of Lagos and Kano states, as well as some private sector stakeholders.

PEBEC, which was inaugurated in 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari, comprises 10 ministers, with that of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah, as vice chairman, along with the Head of Service, the Central Bank (CBN) Governor, representatives of the National Assembly, Lagos and Kano states, and the private sector.

Recently, the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) of the PEBEC released the 2016/2017 Reform Update document at the 5th Presidential Quarterly Business Forum held in Abuja on September 11, where the role of regulators as business facilitators was further discussed.

This event was chaired by Prof. Osinbajo and attended by ministers and heads of agencies as well as leading companies in the private sector.