Vice-President Kashim Shettima has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), to strengthen cooperation in order to create a more conducive environment for business in Nigeria.
He made this appeal on Wednesday while addressing participants at the closing session of the PEBEC retreat for heads of MDAs and Reform Champions in Abuja.
Shettima underlined the need to preserve Nigeria’s appeal as a destination for investment and economic growth, reiterating that the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains steadfast in its commitment to the eight-point ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
According to him, this agenda is central to creating a streamlined, investor-friendly landscape and improving the ease of doing business.
“This retreat, convened by PEBEC which I chair, is not merely a review of reforms. It is about building something deeper, collaboration,” Shettima said.
He noted that the machinery of government is far too complex to function in silos and warned that the interrelated nature of national challenges demands unified responses.
“PEBEC has consistently proven that collaborative governance is both achievable and effective within Nigeria’s public sector,” the Vice-President said.
He explained that the council brings together MDAs with intersecting responsibilities, aligning their objectives, harmonising timelines, and helping to restore public trust in government systems.
Shettima urged participants to ensure their decisions reflect a genuine commitment to teamwork, creativity, and measurable improvements in service delivery.
According to him, such progress is impossible without trust, which he described as the most valuable currency in public governance. Without it, he warned, no reform can be sustained or yield meaningful results for Nigerians.
He stressed that the era of blame-shifting in public service must end, calling for an end to bureaucratic rivalries and isolationism.
“Our economic and social future hinges on what public servants choose to do today. Our people are watching. Investors are waiting. We must move from policy to execution, from ambition to delivery.
“From silos to synergy. This retreat should mark the beginning of a culture built on action, accountability, and meaningful collaboration,” Shettima said.
He said Nigerians deserve institutions that are responsive, transparent, and capable of meeting their daily needs. Whether it is business registration or access to public services, citizens should not be trapped in unnecessary red tape, he noted.
“We must simplify processes, eliminate redundancies, and deploy technology to enhance transparency and operational efficiency,” he added.
The Vice-President urged MDA heads to adopt joint planning, share data, and establish collective performance metrics. He also encouraged them to move past the notion of limited mandates and instead embrace teamwork as a guiding principle.
“Let us form interagency task forces for critical reforms rather than working in isolation.
“Resolve disputes through dialogue, bridge gaps with innovation, and consolidate every gain made.
“This is how we build a government that functions not in fragments, but in coordinated unison,” Shettima concluded.
