EoDB: NCDMB, SON, NAQS shine in 2024 transparency, efficiency compliance report ─PEBEC

*Jumoke Oduwale, Special Adviser to the President on the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, releases the Council’s 2024 Half-Year Transparency and Efficiency Compliance Report, disclosing how the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and NAQS emerged as top-performing government regulatory agencies in promoting the Ease of Doing Business in the West African country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Following their exemplary performances on the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and NAQS have emerged as top-performing government regulatory agencies in the 2024 Half-Year Transparency and Efficiency Compliance Report.

ConsumerConnect reports the periodic report assesses the performances of various government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in delivering efficient and transparent services to Nigerian consumers.

The PEBEC report, which covers January to June 2024, ranks MDAs based on their levels of compliance with Executive Order 001 (EO1) on the Promotion of Transparency and Efficiency in the Business Environment, which the Nigerian Government signed into law May 2017.

Mrs. Jumoke Oduwale, Special Adviser to the President on the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), disclosed this information to reporters at the Council’s press conference held Tuesday, August 27, 2024, in Abuja, FCT.

Oduwole stated: “I would like to specifically commend the top three MDAs in a particular order, the NCDMB with an 80.1 percent score, SON with a 78.2 percent score, and the NAQS with a 74.8 percent score.”

The Presidential aide on PEBEC also noted that the three top MDAs were outstanding in their exemplary performances in promoting the Ease of Doing Business in the West African country.

She equally said that the 2024 half-year report recorded a substantial increase in the number of MDAs scoring above 50 percent in their efficiency compliance, increasing from eight MDAs in the 2023 half-year report to 20 in the current period.

Oduwale further explained that the EO1 Directive, aimed at improving public service delivery in the country, was further solidified by the signing of the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 February 2023.

Significance of MDAs’ improved service delivery to boost EoDB, by Oduwole

Commending the outstanding government regulatory agencies, Oduwale stressed the importance of continued improvement in service delivery across all MDAs to enhance the business ecosystem in Nigeria.

According to her, the inaugural 90-day regulatory reform accelerator, launched February 2024, also played a critical role in driving the performance of MDAs in the latest report.

She stated that agencies, which consistently submitted their monthly transparency and efficiency reports, were better positioned to excel in the accelerator programme.

The 2024 Half-Year Transparency and Efficiency Compliance Report, Oduwole said, provided detailed insights into the progress made by MDAs and highlighted areas needing further improvement.

“February of 2023, the Business Facilitation Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 was signed into law, codifying in its entirety the EO1 Directive.

“Since 2018, the secretariat has tracked and run information on the compliance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies with the directives contained in this piece of legislation.

“Based on monthly reports submitted by each MDAs and assessed using an efficiency and transparency methodology, weighted 70 percent for efficiency and 30 percent for transparency, respectively,” the Special Adviser to the President on PEBEC said.

While acknowledging challenges facing the business climate, both locally and globally, as characterised by uncertainties and rapid changes in recent times, Oduwole nonetheless, expressed confidence with the ongoing efforts at improving Nigeria’s business environment.

She, therefore, restated PEBEC’s commitment to driving reforms that would enhance effectiveness, transparency, and collaboration among MDAs, towards ensuring that the country continues to become an increasingly easier place to start and grow business.