Tony Ailemen, Abuja.
A new job creation mechanism and Focus Labs expected to make Nigerian economy more competitive will soon come on steam, as President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to launch an initiative to enhance job creation and investment strategy, as part of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) Focus Labs initiative.
The programme, which is part of plans to push forward with the economic progress recorded so far, was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari’s on Tuesday as part of the Joint Working Group for the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) Focus Labs.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo flagged off the first set of the policy labs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on behalf of the President, according to a statement by the senior special assistant to the President (office of the Vice President), Laolu Akande.
The Focus Labs, according to the Federal Government, will enable the states participate in the ERGP, a wholly federal government initiative to boost economic Recovery by providing clusters for the Micro Small and medium scale enterprises the opportunities to galvanize ideas for greater economic gains especially at the sub national levels.
The establishment of the Focus Labs, according to Akande, is expected to further boost economic growth and ensure Nigeria continues its journey of building a competitive economy.
The objectives of the Buhari administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan include eradicating corruption in government procurement and processes, prudent management of resources, social inclusion, overcoming power constraints and skills shortages, and further promoting private sector inclusion.
In less than a year, following its launch by President Muhammadu Buhari, the implementation of the ERGP has seen the country’s economy record significant strides, including its exit from recession last year and improved stability in the fiscal and monetary markets.
Also, in last year’s World Bank Doing Business index, Nigeria jumped 24 places and was listed among the 10 most reforming economies globally, feats that have attracted wide applause and commendation for the economic policies of the Buhari administration.
In line with the administration’s economic focus and direction, which includes restoring growth and building a competitive economy, the ERGP Focus Labs are aimed at driving new investments that would create hundreds of thousands of jobs for Nigerians across the 36 states of the federation and, in the long-term, continue to grow the economy.
A Central Steering Committee and Joint Working Group of the ERGP Focus Labs will be formed comprising nine ministers in Agriculture, Transport, Solid Minerals, Industry Trade and investment, Power Works and Housing, Petroleum Resources, Finance, Justice and of course Budget and National Planning.
The responsibilities of the Central Steering Committee will include steering the labs and ensuring active collaboration with the private sector to remove inhibitions that may have impeded some of the priority investment projects that have been stalled for too long.
In the same vein, the Joint Working Group will comprise senior public officers from the six aforementioned pilot Ministries, and their agencies. They are expected to work with the Senior Special Assistants to the President in the ERGP Implementation Unit to plan the labs successfully and address the inter-agency bottlenecks the investors bring to the labs.
Other tasks of the members of the core sector teams in the Group include generation and validation of sector data, provision of sector specific information and context, provision of technical perspective and government policy position.
The Working Group would also be tasked with making decisions on behalf of the government that promotes investment and national interest, build Institutional memory, strengthen Institutional capacity, and encourage institutional ownership.
