Vice President Kashim Shettima has stressed that no government can fully understand or effectively manage the economy if it fails to engage with employers and the private sector.
Speaking at the 5th Nigerian Employers’ Summit in Abuja on Monday, Shettima said continuous dialogue between government and businesses is essential for economic growth, investment and job creation.
The Vice President, who was represented by the President’s Special Adviser on General Duties, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, said the Federal Government remains committed to removing obstacles that hinder businesses and digitising government services to improve the ease of doing business across the country.
“The private sector asks only that government should not make doing business unnecessarily difficult. Every delayed approval and every unclear regulation imposes additional costs on enterprise,” he said.
He added that reforms introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s administration are aimed at building a stronger and more stable economy, despite the challenges they may have created in the short term.
According to Shettima, the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms and ongoing tax reforms are necessary steps to create a transparent business environment, attract investment and promote sustainable economic growth.
“Any government that ignores employers cannot fully understand the economy,” he said.
The Vice President also assured businesses that the government would continue reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks so that economic reforms are felt across all parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale Oyerinde, said the summit has become an important platform for strengthening collaboration between government and the organised private sector.
He also announced that beginning in 2027, the Nigerian Employers’ Summit will be upgraded to the International Employers’ Summit.
