The Nigerian Civil Society has issued a strong statement dismissing the Ease of Doing Business Report by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which scored the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Special Control Unit on Money Laundering (SCUML), and National Pension Commission (PenCom) low.
The civil society group considers the report lacking in merit and not reflective of the broader responsibilities of parties within Nigeria’s business environment.
Acting as a vigilant watchdog with an extensive understanding of Nigeria’s business landscape, the Nigerian Civil Society Network highlighted a recurring issue where many business owners bypass statutory remittances and rush to obtain clearance certificates at the last minute when bidding for contracts.
This practice, they argue, undermines the integrity of the system and calls for better enforcement and encouragement of timely remittances from contractors.
The group emphasizes the importance of contractors making prompt remittances to secure necessary certificates, thus ensuring a smoother and more transparent business process.
In their statement, the Nigerian Civil Society Network urged PEBEC to collaborate more closely with the aforementioned agencies to foster timely compliance and boost government revenue.
They stressed that until such cooperation is achieved, the current report misrepresents the significant contributions and efforts of the BPP, PenCom, SCUML, and NIS in enhancing Nigeria’s business environment.
Dr. Rowland Bolaji Ogunyomi, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Society Network, reiterated the need for a more accurate and fair assessment that truly reflects the impacts of these agencies on the ease of doing business.