NACCIMA PRESENTS STATE OF THE NATION
STATE OF THE NATION: NACCIMA’s SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WAY FORWARD
1.0 INTRODUCTION In the recent past, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), has given a standing invitation to the Organized Private Sector (OPS), to take over the drivers seat of the nation’s economy. As a leading member of the OPS, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), offers the following positions that will assist both the FGN and OPS to jointly drive the economy so that the current 7-Point Agenda and Vision 20:2020 of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua could be achieved with resounding success. Our positions are not exclusive but highlight some of the major priority areas of the economy that must be faced now. Among these are: 1. Timing and Submission of Federal, State and Local Government Budgets; 2. Niger Delta Crisis; 3. Resource Control and Derivation; 4. Constitutional Review; 5. Price of Crude Oil in Budget; 6. Power Production and Distribution; - Gas Flaring; - Green Energy; 7. Energy Production; 8. Global Warming; 9. Good Governance – Transparency, Accountability and Integrity; 10. Infrastructural Development & Maintenance; 11. Food Security and Sovereignty; 12. Funding Real Sector/SME Development; 13. Education; 14. Health; 15. Security; 16. National Content Policy; 17. National Political Reform Conference Resolution; and 18. Late Appearance of Government at Functions (either arranged by a Ministry or the ones they are invited).
2.0 OUR SUBMISSION:
1. Timing and Submission of National Budget to National Assembly: The fact that the 2008 Budget was signed into law on April 14, 2008, is a vivid indication that the timing of the Budget is wrong. The President of the U.S.A. signed the 2009 Budget into law last January 2008, giving the Bureaucrats one year to begin implementation. FGN/State/Local governments are urged to note. We, therefore, recommend that the 2009 Budgets should reach the National/State/Local Assemblies in July 2008, giving the Legislators three months to consider and approve same by October.
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