Category: Nigerian Tribune

A former Chief Whip of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the House of Representatives and the Babameto of Ibadanland, Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye, has resigned his membership of the Oyo State Advisory Council.

Oduyoye, who represented Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2007, said in a resignation letter dated July 24, 2026, and addressed to Governor Seyi Makinde through the Chairman of the Advisory Council, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, that personal exigencies had constrained his continued membership of the Council.

In the letter, Oduyoye announced that his resignation takes immediate effect.

Hon. Oduyoye, who also served as the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Governor between 2019 and 2023, stated that while he deeply appreciates the opportunity to serve on the Advisory Council, his personal circumstances have made it impossible for him to continue to participate in the affairs of the body.

The Federal Ministry of Education has intensified efforts to transform research outputs into commercially viable products and businesses with the commencement of the North-West Zonal National Commercialisation Intelligence and Ecosystem Engagement Workshop in Kano.

The two-day workshop, organised through the Ministry’s Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee (RICC) in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), is the fifth in a series of six zonal engagements aimed at building a robust National Research and Commercialisation Intelligence Ecosystem to accelerate innovation-driven economic growth.

The workshop, which runs from July 27 to 28, brings together policymakers, researchers, academics, investors, industry leaders, development partners, financial institutions, innovation hubs and other key stakeholders from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States to develop practical strategies for commercialising research and strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee (RICC), TF Okujagu, described the North-West as one of Nigeria’s leading centres of commerce, manufacturing, agriculture, enterprise and innovation, making it strategically positioned to drive research commercialisation and industrial growth.

He said the zonal consultation forms part of a nationwide effort to co-design a research commercialisation ecosystem that reflects the comparative advantages of each geopolitical zone while enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy.

According to Okujagu, Nigeria’s greatest challenge is not a shortage of innovative ideas or talented researchers but the absence of a coordinated system that effectively links researchers, innovators, industry, investors and government.

He disclosed that the proposed National Commercialisation Intelligence System (NCIS) would provide a unified digital platform serving as a national repository for research outputs, technology readiness levels, industry demand, funding opportunities, investor networks and commercialisation pathways.

‘The platform will become a strategic national asset that enables stronger collaboration, facilitates technology transfer, supports evidence-based policymaking and accelerates the transformation of research into products, enterprises, jobs and national prosperity,’ he said.

Okujagu added that the initiative aligns with the vision of the Minister of Education and TETFund to promote research commercialisation, stimulate economic diversification and position Nigeria as a competitive player in the global knowledge-driven economy.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Seth Akutson called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s research ecosystem, urging stakeholders to reposition research as a key driver of industrialisation and economic development.

He observed that while universities and research institutions continue to produce valuable knowledge, many innovations remain confined to laboratories and academic journals because of weak industry linkages, inadequate financing, limited commercialisation structures and insufficient intellectual property protection.

Akutson encouraged researchers to focus on solving real-life societal challenges while building stronger partnerships with industries and investors capable of translating discoveries into commercially successful products and services.

Drawing lessons from countries such as South Africa, Israel and the United Kingdom, he advocated the adoption of the Triple Helix Plus model, which promotes collaboration among academia, government, industry, investors, innovation hubs and development partners to move research beyond publications into factories, farms, hospitals and communities.

Also speaking, RICC member, Engr. Umar Bindir, presented the National Research-to-Commercialisation (R2C) Initiative, explaining that it seeks to establish an integrated National Commercialisation Intelligence System linking universities, research institutes, industry, investors, innovation hubs, technology transfer offices and policymakers through a single digital infrastructure.

He said the platform would improve visibility for research outputs, facilitate industry demand matching, strengthen investment decisions, monitor commercialisation pipelines and enable government to track national innovation performance using real-time data.

Bindir described the initiative as a strategic national asset designed to transform Nigeria’s fragmented innovation ecosystem into a coordinated, data-driven network capable of delivering measurable socio-economic outcomes.

He noted that the ongoing zonal consultations would capture regional strengths and intelligence that would shape the National Research-to-Commercialisation Framework, urging participants to contribute ideas that would help build an innovation ecosystem capable of creating businesses, quality jobs, wealth and sustainable national prosperity.

Participants commended the Federal Ministry of Education and TETFund for sustaining investments in research infrastructure, institutional capacity and innovation, noting that the current initiative represents a significant step toward bridging the longstanding gap between research and industry and positioning research as a catalyst for economic growth, enterprise development and national competitiveness.

The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has expressed full commitment to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, and with many success stories of his Renewed Hope Agenda in the state, assuring that Ondo will deliver over one million votes

Speaking during an interview with journalists, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, stated that the present administration considers President Tinubu’s second term bid a priority because of the enormous developmental benefits Ondo State has continued to receive from the Federal Government, expressing confidence that the state would be number one in the South-West with massive votes.

Ajanaku said the confidence of the state government in President Tinubu’s leadership is reflected in the numerous federal infrastructure projects currently transforming Ondo State.

He highlighted the reconstruction of the Owo-Benin Expressway, which passes through Owo and Ose Local Government Areas, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with about 71 kilometres traversing Ese-Odo and Ilaje Local Government Areas, and the ongoing rehabilitation of the Ore-Akure Expressway linking Odigbo, Ondo West and Ondo East Local Government Areas.

According to him, the projects are improving connectivity, facilitating trade and stimulating socio-economic growth across the state.

The commissioner described President Tinubu’s economic reforms as bold and necessary measures aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s economy for sustainable growth. While acknowledging that some of the policies have created temporary challenges, he maintained that they are already laying a solid foundation for long-term economic stability, increased investment, and national prosperity.

He further reaffirmed that the Aiyedatiwa administration enjoys a cordial and seamless working relationship with the Federal Government, dismissing claims of any disagreement between the state and the presidency. He urged residents of Ondo State to disregard fake news and politically motivated insinuations capable of creating unnecessary tension or undermining the existing partnership.

Ajanaku also called on APC members and supporters across the state to remain united and intensify grassroots mobilisation in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid. He expressed optimism that sustained collaboration between the federal government and Ondo State would accelerate development, expand infrastructure, and ensure that more dividends of democracy reach the people.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has selected Ogun State as one of the pilot states for the Used Off-Grid Renewable Energy Equipment (OGREE) Waste Management Project aimed at promoting a circular economy and sustainable environmental management in Nigeria.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya, disclosed this while declaring open a UNIDO workshop on the State Implementation Plan and Guidelines for Data Collection and Management under the OGREE Waste Management Project in Abeokuta.

Oresanya said the state’s selection reflects the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its readiness to champion innovative approaches that promote resource efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, resource recovery and green economic growth.

According to him, Ogun was selected as one of the core states under UNIDO’s Project 220145, Component 2, which is designed to advance Nigeria’s green and just transition to net-zero emissions through the adoption of circular economy initiatives.

He attributed the nomination to the state’s consistent implementation of circular economy programmes and environmental sustainability initiatives.

The commissioner noted that the recognition would further strengthen Ogun’s achievements in climate change mitigation and circular economy projects.

He also highlighted the state’s recent collaboration with the federal government on the distribution of more than 3,000 biomass smokeless stoves to residents as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and ease the economic burden associated with rising cooking gas prices.

‘Aside from this, the state government was one of the first in the country to adopt and launch thousands of electric bikes and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, providing environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuel-powered vehicles and reducing carbon emissions in line with the state’s Energy Transition Roadmap for a cleaner and healthier environment,’ he said.

Oresanya added that the government has also implemented several initiatives, including the Blue Box Initiative for household waste segregation, the Plastic for Cash programme, community recycling projects, cement industry decarbonisation projects and senatorial material recovery programmes.

He urged participants drawn from government agencies, technical partners, the private sector, academia and non-governmental organisations to actively participate in the workshop by sharing ideas and experiences that would contribute to the successful implementation of the project.

The commissioner also expressed appreciation to UNIDO for its technical support and partnership in implementing the OGREE Waste Management Project in the state.

Speaking at the event, the National Field Coordinator of the UNIDO Nigeria Office, Ms Emem Umana, commended the Ogun State Government for its commitment to circular economy initiatives and environmental sustainability.

She encouraged the state to sustain its socio-economic and environmental reforms, noting that the efforts had earned Ogun recognition as a leading state in the promotion of green growth and sustainable development.

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a 37-year-old man, Tunde Kazeem, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

Justice Lekan Olatawura handed down the sentence on Monday after finding the defendant guilty on a five-count charge of armed robbery.

Kazeem was arraigned on June 16, 2025, over an attack that occurred on October 2, 2024, at the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI).

According to the charge, the defendant robbed five students – Adewale Moyinoluwa, Ogunbolude Oluwanifemi, Ojo Oluwamayowa, Sidiq Simbiat, and Oloruntoba Nifemi – of phones valued at ?680,000. The stolen phones included an Infinix Smart 7, an Itel A04, an Infinix Smart 6, a Samsung Galaxy S6, and a Tecno Pop 8.

The prosecution said Kazeem carried out the robbery while armed with a gun, an offence contrary to Section 312(2)(a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

Testifying before the court, victim Adewale Moyinoluwa recounted the night of the incident.

‘My roommates and I were in our room around 9:10 p.m. when we heard a knock on the door. One of us went to open it and immediately, a man wearing a lemon shirt and blue denim shorts entered. He was holding a double-barrel pistol. He ordered us to submit our phones. We thought it was a joke until he dipped his hand into his pocket, brought out cartridges and started loading the gun. He then pointed it at us.

‘We submitted all our phones and he packed them. He told us to lock the door behind him and not to shout. But when he left, we started shouting,’ she added.

To prove its case, the prosecution counsel, Salem Bade-Gboyega, called seven witnesses and tendered exhibits, including the defendant’s confessional statements, a lemon-green hoodie cardigan, ATM cards, and a search warrant.

The defendant testified in his own defence through his counsel, Amir Salami. He called no witnesses but pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

In his judgment, Justice Olatawura said the law left no room for leniency in cases of armed robbery.

‘I am unable to exercise any discretion in favour of a defendant who showed no remorse throughout his trial. The punishment for armed robbery is one of strict application.

‘Consequent upon the foregoing, I find the defendant guilty on all counts.

‘Accordingly, the sentence of this court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul,’ Justice Olatawura pronounced.

Singer Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P of the defunct P-Square, has stirred reactions after arguing that Nigerian languages have little practical value while defending his decision to allow his children to speak French instead of an indigenous language.

The debate started on Monday after the singer shared a post on X from Paris, expressing pride in how fluently his children speak French and hinting at the possibility of owning a home in the French capital.

‘Still in Paris! Watching my kids speak French so effortlessly makes me think… maybe it’s time to own a crib here in Paris. Just a thought,’ he wrote.

His post quickly shifted the conversation from life abroad to language and cultural identity after an X user, @sambuddybest, asked whether his children could also speak Igbo.

Replying to the question, Mr P dismissed the relevance of Nigerian languages, insisting they offered little benefit.

‘And who naija language help? Make I hear word abeg,’ he wrote.

The remark triggered mixed reactions across social media. While some users maintained that teaching indigenous languages helps preserve culture and identity, others backed the singer’s position, saying parents should decide how to raise their children.

As the criticism mounted, Mr P maintained that the choice of language within a family should remain the exclusive responsibility of parents.

‘When it’s your turn, teach your own kids all the languages in Nigeria if that’s your choice,’ he wrote.

The singer later fired back at his critics through a series of posts, telling them to stay out of his family’s affairs.

‘I’ve got just three words for you: MYB – Mind Your Business.

‘Go and find someone else to pour your frustration on. Not here.

‘As for me and my family, we’re good. Go and find another place to pour your frustration,’ the singer said.

He also questioned why people were concerned about the languages spoken by his children.

‘Again, what exactly do you stand to gain if my children speak Nigerian languages? How does that improve your life?

‘MYB – Mind Your Business. Cry harder,’ MR P said.

The music star further argued that speaking indigenous Nigerian languages had not produced meaningful benefits, pointing out that English remains the country’s official language.

‘Again and again… who has speaking a Nigerian language helped?

‘The official language of Nigeria is English, yet this is what you’re worried about?

‘Una never ready. The joke is on you.’

Mr P also accused some of those criticising him of double standards, claiming many of them would embrace foreign citizenship and raise their children abroad if given the opportunity.

‘Meanwhile, many of the same people criticizing me would jump at the chance to get foreign citizenship or raise their own children abroad if they had the opportunity.

‘With everything going on in Nigeria, your biggest concern is whether my children speak Nigerian languages?

‘Focus on the real issues and let people raise their families the way they choose. Ndi ala.’

Reinforcing his position in another post, the singer again questioned why the issue had attracted so much attention.

‘With everything going on in Nigeria, your biggest concern is whether my children speak Nigerian languages?

‘Out of all the real issues facing the country, this is what keeps you awake?’

NDE RHEI Phase 3 programme is a nationwide vocational, technical, and entrepreneurial training designed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, its primary objective is to combat mass youth unemployment and alleviate poverty by equipping unskilled and unemployed Nigerians with market-driven, self-sustaining skills.

Step 1: Visit the registration portal (https://nderegistrationportal.ng/) and click ‘Sign Up.’

Step 2: Create an account by providing:

First Name

Last Name

National Identification Number (NIN)

Email Address

Create a Password

Step 3: Log in using your registered email address and password.

Step 4: Complete the online application by filling in the following details:

Personal Information

Contact Details

Educational Qualification

Employment Status

Bank Account Details

Bank Verification Number (BVN)

Preferred Training Programme

State, Local Government Area (LGA), and Residential Address

Step 5: Upload the required documents:

Passport Photograph (maximum size: 500KB)

Valid Means of Identification (if required)

Educational Certificate(s)

Step 6: Carefully review all the information you have entered to ensure it is accurate.

Step 7: Click ‘Submit’ and wait for further communication from the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

Important Information

Ensure that your NIN and BVN belong to you and are entered correctly.

Use an active phone number and email address that you can access.

Submit only one application. Multiple applications may lead to disqualification.

Keep your login details safe for future access.

Registration is completely FREE. Do not pay anyone to register or secure placement under the programme. Beware of fraudsters.

There appears to be no immediate end to the leadership crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly as lawmakers pushing for the removal of the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon.Olamide Oladiji, accused the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, of frustrating the move by allegedly persuading lawmakers to abandon the impeachment.

The lawmakers pushing for the impeachment of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, over the alleged diversion of N44m meant for the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), insisted there is ‘no going back’ on the process.

This is just as the lawmakers, challenged Aiyedatiwa to come out clean on the matter, maintaining that the Speaker had lost the confidence of the majority of members of the House and that his removal had become inevitable.

The spokesperson of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olatunji Fabiyi, said all the lawmakers had signed the impeachment notice against Oladiji, stressing that the decision was the collective resolution of the House.

Fabiyi said the lawmakers had already informed governor Aiyedatiwa of their decision, stressing that the impeachment move was purely an internal affair of the House of Assembly.

He however, questioned the governor’s interest in retaining the Speaker, alleging that some lawmakers had been approached by government officials and pressured to withdraw their support for the impeachment process.

He said ‘There is no going back. That is the resolution of members. We have nothing against the governor, but we don’t want our present leadership again.There is no reason why somebody should continue to impose himself on us when we don’t want him again,’

‘I have the opinion that the government is calling some members to backpedal on the issue of impeachment. I don’t know the special interest the governor has. If there is no hidden agenda, I see no reason why he should be protecting the Speaker.

‘So I don’t know the special interest that the governor is having. At least 21 members have signed the impeachment against Mr. Speaker.

To me, I don’t know the interest of Mr. governor. Unless if the government is telling us that they have anything or something in common.

‘Perhaps the governor has reasons best known to him for supporting the Speaker. Otherwise, I see no reason or justification for his intervention.

Both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker committed the error that led to this situation. There is no going back on the impeachment; it is the collective resolution of the members.

‘I see no reason why anyone should still be backing the Speaker at this stage. We have met with the governor and made it clear that we have nothing against him. Our concern is simply that we no longer have confidence in the present leadership of the House.

‘There is no reason why someone should continue to impose a leadership on us when we have made it clear that we no longer want it. It is as simple as that.’

The lawmaker further accused the governor of preventing the House from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.

Asked if the governor was stopping lawmakers from performing their duties, he replied, ‘Definitely’ saying that the governor has requested for seven more days.

On the next line of action, Fabiyi said lawmakers would allow the 14-day period requested by the governor to lapse before taking further steps.

‘Initially, we thought it was seven days, but it became clear that the governor requested 14 days. The 14 days will expire next Sunday. After that, members will take the next constitutional step,’ he said.

He maintained that the Speaker had already lost the confidence of the House and should resign voluntarily to protect his political future.

‘We met with the Speaker and told him categorically that he was no longer enjoying the confidence of members.

‘We advised him to resign voluntarily so that it would not have a negative impact on his political future, but it is the collective resolution of the House that he should go,’

He insisted that allowing the Speaker to step aside would restore peace to the Assembly and said, ‘It is the statutory right of House members. The governor should allow peace to reign in the House by allowing the Speaker to step aside,’

The spokesperson for the lawmakers, Fabiyi, however, said the aggrieved members had resolved to suspend the plenary until a new Speaker is elected.

According to him, the lawmakers would not return to legislative business until there was a change in the leadership of the House.

‘We have resolved not to hold plenary until there is a change of Speaker. For now, there is no development except that the Speaker should step aside and allow another member to preside over the Ondo State House of Assembly. If he doesn’t resign, we will impeach him. If he fails to do the needful, we will do the needful.’ Fabiyi said

The Speaker, Oladiji, is facing impeachment after 21 of the 26 lawmakers signed a notice seeking his removal over allegations of financial mismanagement.

The lawmakers accused the Speaker of failing to carry members along in the disbursement of an alleged N44 million released for the reordering of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) 2026 budget.

The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has called on the Federal Government to adopt tougher measures against terrorism, including reviewing the prosecution process for suspected terrorists and kidnappers.

In a statement issued by his Media Aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric argued that the current approach to handling terrorism cases has not sufficiently deterred criminal groups.

He said those confirmed to have committed acts of terrorism should face the maximum punishment provided by law, rather than prolonged court proceedings.

‘There should be no court for kidnappers and terrorists; once they have been arrested and confirmed as terrorists, they should be killed immediately. There is no need charging them to court because they won’t get the deserved punishment. Such crimes should attract the immediate death penalty, and those talking to them and paying ransom should also be arrested. This is how terrorism can end,’ he said.

Primate Ayodele also urged the authorities to investigate and prosecute individuals found to be negotiating with or providing ransom to terrorist groups, including public officials where evidence exists.

The cleric commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their efforts in combating insurgency and praised the Minister of State for Defence over the directive for troops to take decisive action against terrorists during military operations.

He further appealed to President Bola Tinubu to honour soldiers and senior military officers for their contributions to the fight against insecurity.

‘The Nigerian Army can do better; there are people who want to destabilise the government through insecurity. I urge President Tinubu to give national honours to our soldiers and top officers. They have done very well and should be appreciated for their good work,’ he said.

Primate Ayodele also cautioned against the proliferation of private security outfits without adequate regulation and funding, warning that poorly managed groups could become security threats.

Instead, he advocated greater support for local hunters and community-based security initiatives operating in collaboration with formal security agencies.

The cleric also called on the Federal Government to ensure the protection of a Plateau-based cleric, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo.

According to him, the government should take proactive steps to guarantee the cleric’s safety, expressing concern over the implications if any harm were to come to him.

The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has intensified efforts to reduce the cost of sugar production in Nigeria.

The Council said Nigerian factories pay between two and 10 times more than their competitors for power, credit and logistics.

According to a statement by the Council, discussions at the National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment (NCITI) meeting held in Enugu showed that disciplined pricing of production inputs, as seen in Nigeria’s urea industry, can transform an importing nation into a top-10 global exporter.

The Executive Secretary of the NSDC, Mr Kamar Bakrin, said Nigeria must now choose between competing for the African market or conceding it to others.

He asked the Council to consider two factory managers – one in Aba and the other in Ho Chi Minh City – running the same machines, employing equally skilled workers and serving the same customers.

‘By the time their products reach the factory gate,’ he said, ‘the Nigerian manufacturer has paid between two and 10 times more for the three things every manufacturer in the world must buy: power, money and movement.

‘Industrial power costs a Vietnamese factory about 8 US cents per kilowatt-hour and a Chinese factory about 10 cents. The Nigerian factory pays about 15 cents on the grid, rising to nearly 30 cents once diesel generators take over.

‘Nigerian manufacturers spent an estimated ?1.34 trillion last year generating their own electricity. In Mr Bakrin’s words, ‘Every factory in Nigeria is running a second, unwanted business as a private power station.”

Bakrin noted that working capital costs between 27 and 35 per cent in Nigeria, compared to about 9 per cent in Vietnam and 3 per cent in China. He also said Nigeria ranks 88th out of 139 countries on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, compared to Vietnam’s 43rd and China’s 19th.

‘The result is that, in a country of 230 million consumers, with duty-free access to 1.4 billion more under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), manufacturing contributes barely 8 per cent of GDP, while capacity utilisation has dropped to 57.7 per cent.

‘None of this is a demand problem. Nobody on this continent needs persuading to buy what Nigeria makes,’ he said. ‘It is a cost-of-production problem, and that distinction matters because costs, unlike demand, are within our power to fix.’

The NSDC boss said the timing could not be more significant.

‘The government’s macroeconomic reforms have delivered greater stability, with inflation roughly halved from its peak and foreign reserves standing at $51 billion, the highest since 2009. This gives factories, for the first time in years, the confidence to plan and invest.

‘Global supply chains are being redrawn as companies diversify, and a factory established in another country this decade is unlikely to relocate. AfCFTA also cuts both ways: either our goods cross borders into other markets, or other countries’ goods flood ours. We are either going to compete or concede the market.’

He pointed to Nigeria’s urea industry, which expanded from a production capacity of 500,000 tonnes in 2005 to 6.5 million tonnes today, making Nigeria one of the world’s top 10 exporters of nitrogen fertiliser.

According to him, the transformation was driven by one key policy decision: pricing natural gas as an industrial input rather than treating it solely as a source of government revenue.

‘The whole lesson is in one sentence: when a country prices inputs as if it wants industry to thrive, industry thrives.’

Bakrin then presented four resolutions for the Council’s consideration. These include requiring every state to designate at least one industrial cluster for a dedicated power arrangement within 12 months; establishing a federal-state compact to harmonise levies and eliminate informal checkpoints along industrial corridors; introducing an annual State Industrial Competitiveness Index to publicly rank states on power, land, levies and logistics; and enforcing the Nigeria First procurement policy at both federal and state levels through quarterly compliance dashboards.

He added that all four proposals are built on one guiding principle.

‘Public support must be earned continuously and transparently. Every tax credit, every unit of subsidised power and every act of government patronage should be tied to measurable performance that is independently verified and publicly reported,’ the Executive Secretary said.

The National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment (NCITI) is Nigeria’s highest policy advisory body on industry, trade and investment. It brings together federal and state governments annually. Its 17th meeting was held in Enugu under the theme, ‘Enhancing Competitiveness in Industry, Trade and Investment for Inclusive Growth and Global Market Integration.’