Introduction
In order to strengthen and sustain the public private dialogue (PPD) after the Summit process, the NESG and the National Planning Commission conceptualised the transformation of the 14 NES Workgroups into Policy Commissions during NES #10 in 2003 with a view to maintaining the momentum for the implementation of the Summit recommendations. While the structure and framework are the same, the Policy Commissions are different from the Workgroups in terms of operations, content, work processes and delivery. The Policy Commissions are designed to comprise the core team of the Workgroup membership and will be working before, during and after Summits.
Structure
As part of efforts to re-invigorate and refocus the Policy Commissions (PCs) to deliver on their mandates, there was the need to review and further contract the 14 PCs to a manageable size. This became imperative for the following reasons among others:
- The 14 PCs have become unwieldy and too large for effective coordination and management.
- Many of the PCs have not lived up to expectation in terms of active engagement in pre- and post-summit activities and programmes, due partly to difficulty in sustaining participants’ commitment.
- There is also the issue of inadequate resources to effectively manage the programmes of the 14 PCs at the same time.
Consequently, after an extensive deliberation by the NES#12 Technical Committee in 2006, it came up with 8 broad-based PCs with specific areas of focus as stated below:
- Infrastructure: Energy ( Power), Water, Transportation (aviation, rail, inland waterways, ports & roads), Communications
- Agriculture: Agricultural production, Agricultural processing, storage and marketing, Agricultural Finance, Food Security.
- Investment Climate & Competitiveness: Macroeconomic Framework, Law & Order, Trade Policy & Competitive Industrialisation, Privatisation & Liberalisation, Budget and Economic Coordination, NEPAD
- Human Development: Primary & Vocational Education, Youth Development & Employment, Health
- Non-Oil/Non-Agric Sectors: SMEs, Solid Minerals, Manufacturing, Tourism, Banking, Finance & Insurance
- Governance: Rebuilding Institutions, Value re-orientation, Corporate Governance & Ethics
- Science & Technology: Bio Technology, ICT, Research & Development
- Oil & Gas: Oil, Gas, Niger Delta
Goals/Objectives/Functions
The 8 Policy Commissions will facilitate the adoption of various NES recommendations with a view of fast-tracking growth and development of the economy. In this respect, the Commissions will work throughout the year and between the Summits with the active involvement of the Policy Analysis Unit of the National Planning Commission to follow-through the implementation of the various NES recommendations. Basically, they will focus on the gamut of the policy process framework of specific sectors in terms of articulation/formulation, planning, implementation, evaluation/monitoring. Three essential functions are expected to be performed by each of the 8 Policy Commissions, namely:
- Provide a platform for public-private sector dialogue on specific sector issues at the highest level possible thus creating a partnership and cooperation process.
- Analyse and determine priorities of specific sectors recommendations at NES and other fora and establish consensus on the most appropriate policy options, implementation strategy/framework and performance evaluation mechanism.
- Fit agreed priorities, policies, implementation and performance evaluation framework into a long-term process aimed at achieving a set vision for the sector and the nation as a whole, especially within the framework of the Government reform agenda - NEEDS.
However, it is expected that the work of the Policy Commissions will involve three main areas – Communication, Advocacy and Research. In terms of communications and advocacy, the Commissions will encourage exchange of best practice ideas and foster support for implementation of policies that will result in positive changes in the sector. Basically, the Commissions will prepare specific position papers or advocacy documents for use during appearances and meetings with the appropriate Legislative and Executive Committees in the course of the year. The various NES recommendations for the specific sectors would be a useful starting point.
Other likely functions include:
- Develop a process and procedures manual for organising a Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum for the sector (and hold at least two Consultative Fora within a year).
- Liaise with relevant Ministries and Agencies e.g. NPC with a view to ‘harmonising’ and ‘transforming’ NES recommendations into policies
- Initiate and follow-through quarterly dialogue on specific issues in the sector.
- Publish the report of the dialogue sessions and research findings (NESG Research Unit to co-ordinate).
- Conduct research – the primary objective is to provide evidence for advocacy activities lined up for the Commission. Specific research activities will be deliberated and will be undertaken by the Research Team of NESG or outsourced, in an effort to ensure the competitiveness of the domestic private sector in national, regional, and global economy.
Management
In terms of management, the Policy Commissions involve the following:
- Leadership – This includes the Co-chair, Speaker, Rapporteurs and Core Team members. They will be responsible for driving the process.
- Membership – This comprises stakeholders from public and private sectors, civil society groups, and international and multilateral institutions.
- Programme Content – Subsequently, a group of Consultants were commissioned to craft the yearly activities of the Policy Commissions, so as to harmonise the programme contents with the activities of the Policy Analysis Unit of the NPC, to further facilitate the ‘transformation’ of NES recommendations into policies.
Each of the Commission is attached a Schedule Officer from the NESG Secretariat who facilitates the coordination of the process with the leadership of the Commission. This process involves correspondence, meetings, workshops and consultations designed to achieve the set targets and vision of the group.
Funding
Efforts are ongoing to source funds to drive the process in each of the 8 Policy Commissions. Presently, the World Bank, DFID, USAID, CIDA have responded positively and are funding some of the Commissions. Requests have also been made to some public/private organizations and key donor agencies to fund the research components of the work programme.
Outlined below are the activities of the 8 Policy Commissions during the review period:
Oil and Gas
The Commission at its first post-NES # 12 meeting created five Sub-Committees to ensure adequate implementation of recommendations in all the sub-sectors. Hence, the sub-committees are expected to undertake some of the following issues/tasks:
1. Upstream (Oil & Gas Sectors)
- Rationalise concession policy & lease terms
- Follow consistently block allocation guidelines to ensure transparency & due process
- Structure institutional players in the oil & gas sector
- Expand the petroleum act to cover concession policies, lease terms, regulatory agencies, local content, etc
- Fund oil and gas projects to go to capital market of high risk takers
- Abolish multiple taxation.
2. Local Content (Upstream & Downstream Sectors)
- Grow local content by an additional 20% over the next 4 years by concentrating in the areas of infrastructure, security, funding, fiscal policies, rule of law, skill development, quality
- Create a Bight of Benin hub for maintenance, services and fabrication
3. Niger Delta
- Address mutual distrust amongst stakeholders and engaging them in project selection, execution and accountability
- Enunciate a political solution to the Niger delta crisis
- Ensure proactive media response to Niger delta issues
- Ensure that communities share in economic rent distribution (fees and royalties)
4. Downstream (Oil and Gas Sectors)
- Pursue full deregulation and liberalisation to ensure the new investments in refinery and petrochemicals
- Develop alternative fuel – ethanol & infrastructure
- Complete the enactment of the natural gas act that includes; Natural Gas Grid, Open Access, Deregulated pricing and policy basis
5. Legal Drafting and Review
- a) The Petroleum Act, 1969, b) Energy Bill, c) CITA, 1990 and amendments, d) NEITI Bill/Due Process, e) NNPC Act, 1977, f) OGIC Report, g) Petroleum Profit Tax Act, h) The Nigerian Content Bill, i) The NDDC Act, j) The Niger Delta Master Plan, k) Land Use Act 1978, l) Solid Minerals Bills, etc
During the period under review, the Local Content Sub-Committee presented a position paper at the Strategic Stakeholders’ Summit on Capacity Building for Nigerian Content Development in the Oil and Gas Industry, held at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja on November 22 -24, 2006. The presentation sought to have the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) carry out major reforms relevant to local content development value addition, both in the oil and gas industry in particular and the national economy.
Science and Technology Policy Commission
The Policy Commission met several times; at the leadership level, during the period under review. The outcome of these meetings led to the drafting and adoption of the presentation and recommendations made at NES#12, and the formulation of an action plan to ensure a sustainable process of monitoring the implementation of NES recommendations.
Members of the Commission also participated in the following activities during the period:
- Stakeholders meeting in December 2006 for a policy brief on ICT needs in SMEs. To this effect, a meeting with the Ministry of Science and Technology revealed that ICT centres have been established with sixty four work stations to be replicated in all zones, progressively; including an establishment of a galaxy backbone to help harmonise ICT backbones in the country to aid SMEs.
- UNESCO (IAB) Briefing with President Obasanjo on National Science and Technology Policy Reforms in May 2006, aimed at reviewing S&T’s role in curbing the dynamics of labour by 2020 when population will be around 170 million, and Nigeria’s research policy at enhancing technological capability of the private sector.
- UNESCO (IAB) Consultation with Industry Stakeholders in June 2006- to fashion out a more effective way of ensuring research –industry linkages.
- Presidential Retreat on Science and Technology in August 2006 on the way forward for the sector
The Policy Commission has further developed an operational plan beyond NES 13, as a way of anchoring the development of the economy on science and technology, in order to position Nigeria in the list of 20 largest economies of the world by 2020 and to meet the proposed NEEDS 2 targets. As part of its work plan, the Commission will undertake the following activities in 2007:
- Organise a Workshop on Space Technology and its benefits to Nigeria: towards achieving the goal of becoming one of the largest economies by 2020;
- Organise a Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum with the Ministries of Science and Technology/Education, National University Commission, UNIDO, and UNESCO, among others, to devise a framework for supporting entrepreneurship and research & development on a competitive basis;
- Organise a Science & Technology Summit, to discuss ways on how to transform the economy into a vibrant research based economy through science, technology and innovation (ST&I), and also to review the National Policy on Science & Technology,
Non-Oil/Non-Agric Sectors
The Non-oil/Non-agric Policy Commission covers Manufacturing, SMEs, Solid Minerals Development, Tourism, Banking, Finance and Insurance sectors of the economy. The Commission, immediately after NES#12, convened and drafted its two-year work plan and devised proactive steps by which it can follow up on recommendations that were made at the summit. Towards this, the Commission visited the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Prof Leslye Obiora in August 2006, and solicited her support for its programmes, particularly those concerning the solid minerals sector. Visits were also paid to the Special Adviser to the President on Manufacturing and Private Sector, Senator Ahmed Abdulkadir in September 2006, and the Minister of Finance, Mrs Nenadi Usman in October 2006, The aim of these visits was to discuss issues relating to congestion at Nigerian Ports, suggestions on how to fast track cargo clearance, institutionalisation of a National Credit Guarantee Scheme for SMEs, among other things. The Commission also organised a Stakeholders Consultative Forum on SMEs in September 2006 at the Golden Gate Restaurant in Lagos during which a Road Map for SME Development was drawn.
During the review period, the Policy Commission further developed a proposal for “Collaborative Support Programme towards the Development of the SME Sector”, as part of a two-year work plan towards the rapid acceleration of growth in the SME sector, and earmarked the following activities for 2007:
- Focused Group Dialogues between Business Development Services Providers (BDSPs) and SMEs, SMEs and their financial services providers etc.
- Lobby sessions at the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the Tax Reform Bill.
- Capacity building programmes for SMEs and their service providers e.g. BDSPs, Banks etc.
- Research/Study on SME Funding Gaps in Nigeria
To achieve the implementation of the programme activities, the Commission has sought funding support from relevant organisations and donor agencies, such as: the Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), World Bank MSME Project, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
Agriculture and Food Security
Nucleus Estate Initiative (NEI) is an end-use out-grower strategy that is private sector driven and is established to aid entrepreneurs in the area of food processing. It is organised under the umbrella of the Policy Commission as an implementation strategy for developing industrial farmers using a network of several rural-based or low-income farming groups linked to a major farmer, processor or marketer as a central pool. During the year, as part of the Commission’s effort to strengthen and expand the nucleus estates, it began the process of administering survey instruments on 25 Nigerian banks to ascertain their level of awareness and readiness to provide credit to the NEI, as well as buy into it by creating Agriculture Desks in the banks. Also, seven-man committee was set up to visit some of the Nucleus Estates to ascertain the level of implementation of the Nucleus Estate Company in their various locations of operation.
Farmers Micro-credit. Another major activity of the Commission was the constitution of a five-man committee to look into the problems of farmers accessing micro-credit. The committee had concluded its meeting and recommended the need for financial education, especially in the areas of equity financing - which is still unpopular to agricultural enterprises and some financial institutions. It further recommended a workshop that would bring farmers and lenders together for better understanding.
NESG 5th Agriculture Summit. The two-day Summit was organised by the NESG in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) at the Le-Meridien Hotel, Garki, Abuja from 9th – 10th November, 2006. The summit theme was “Agriculture and Agribusiness: Achieving the Target Growth”.
Stakeholders Workshop on Review of National Agricultural Policy: A Private Sector Perspective. This workshop was held on August 10, 2006 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. The study is principally a content review of the Nigerian Agricultural Policy, the NEEDS and other relevant documents with a view to providing a private sector perspective to the development of agriculture in Nigeria.
The work programme includes the following:
- Nucleus Estate Initiative: Advocacy to showcase programme merits, success stories and elicit greater support from private sector and government- short-term plan. Training workshop for Nuclei Estate operators in August, 2007. The objectives of the workshop are to enlighten the Nuclei Estates on: organising farmers into satellites, processing agricultural credits, accessing local and international markets
- Development of agribusiness centres: Establish agribusiness centres to promote access to agribusiness information - short-term plan
- Development of banks’ capacity for agricultural lending - short-term
- Rural infrastructure- Long-term
- Policy and Institutional Reforms – Short and medium-term
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