By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) on Wednesday, honoured at the 5th Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) awards ceremony held in Abuja.
In recognition of the immense contribution and support of the NESG towards the ease of doing business reform intervention of the administration, the NESG was honoured with a legislative award for business facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022).
The NESG also clinched the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) award for business facilitation at the 5th PEBEC Awards ceremony.
The PEBEC awards are aimed at acknowledging and appreciating the efforts of specific arms of government, subnational governments, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government, as well as private sector stakeholders who contributed significantly to the ease of doing business intervention of the administration.
Speaking at the award ceremony, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, said that PEBEC was established in 2016 with a mandate to solve the challenges in the business and trade environment for domestic and foreign businesses, remove bureaucratic constraints and deliver reorientation of regulatory agencies by addressing trust deficits and negative perceptions to encourage enablers for the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
He noted that PEBEC, over the years, developed a strategy to identify and implement bold pragmatic reforms by soliciting the support of other arms of government, including the legislature, judiciary and subnational governments.
Osinbajo also noted that over seven years of the existence of PEBEC, young Nigerians drawn from the private and public sectors have designed and implemented strategies, including the national action plan that helps in implementing priority reforms for each annual reform circle, stating that PEBEC has achieved 180 reforms and seven action plans over the years.
In his remarks, the special adviser to the president on ease of doing business and secretary to the presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said that the PEBEC awards celebrate those that make Nigeria a more accessible place to do business.
According to her, the ceremony was an indication of the power of one Nigeria, as the awards aim to celebrate diligent public servants who have distinguished themselves and private sector stakeholders and non-governmental actors that strive to deliver economic growth for Nigeria.
Dr Oduwole noted that PEBEC has transformed from a homegrown initiative to an internationally recognised initiative which aims to remove bureaucratic constraints and transform Nigeria into a growing economy.
She reiterated that the PEBEC has assisted ministries in creating innovative ways to encourage the ease of doing business through Impactful reforms that have contributed to increased GDP in Nigeria, adding that it has helped to enhance the transparency of government processes, increased infrastructure growth and led to multiple strides in legislative, judicial and subnational reforms.
