Broadcast: LCCI, CIoD call for visible impact of govt. policies
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Chartered Institute of Directors ( CIoD) have urged government to ensure citizens start to see and feel the impact of all its policies and programmes without further delay.
They gave the advice on Tuesday in Lagos in reaction to President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast on Sunday.
President Tinubu had urged Nigerians to suspend the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests and create room for dialogue due to violence unleashed in some parts of the country.
Tinubu listed some of the achievements his administration had made in rebuilding the economy and carrying Nigerians to a future of plenty and abundance.
The Director-General of LCCI, Dr Chinyere Almona, stated that beyond highlighting its achievements, government must ensure citizens enjoy the effect of all its policies.
Almona said all import waivers and tax exemptions should take immediate effect so that businesses and individuals would start to enjoy these concessions.
She noted critical economic variables to include cost of doing business, cost of living (food security), and youth unemployment.
The LCCI D-G called on government to focus and report progress on these variables that had links to many other issues in the economy including poverty, high inflation, increased hunger, heightened crimes, among others.
“In another dimension, we advise that all youth-oriented programmes be fast-tracked such that more youths are rapidly engaged, and others are hopeful of near-term opportunities.
“Apart from the support to academic pursuits through the student loan programme, we have always recommended that government-supported Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) skills acquisition is known to have huge capacity.
“Capacity to develop and empower our youth to take up emerging opportunities.
“The Chamber wishes to reiterate the importance of quickly implementing the single digit loans to large manufacturers to boost manufacturing output and stimulate growth and the support to small businesses in terms of grants and low interest loans,” she said.
Almona called for the expedite distribution of the million Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) kits at extremely low or no cost to commercial vehicles that transport people and goods.
She also urged government to pay stern attention to the implementation and coordination of highlighted programmes as this has always posed a challenge.
“We also need to be more time-sensitive and have clear timelines for implementing policies and programmes.
“We see a more collaborative approach to policy planning and implementation as being crucial from now on.
“Regular stakeholder engagement with the business community, the media and grassroot mobilization structures is advised,” she said.
Also commenting, President, CIoD, Tijjani Borodo, stated that anything not gotten peacefully, cannot be gotten by violence, even in a democratic setting.
He noted that while people had a right to expressing their views, they must never resort to violence.
Borodo said that, while President Bola Tinubu via his broadcast told Nigerians that he had heard them, Nigerians must also see what he was doing to ameliorate the issues going forward.
“As a people, we would get things right but we must ensure we do things the right way.
“The promises government have made must be seen on ground by the people and the people must understand that the journey is more like a marathon and not a sprint .
“We must work together as a people and the government,” he said.
