Policy Dialogue on Power Sector Reform

The Policy Dialogue series is a major activity in NESG’s programme. It is meant to ensure a continuous public-private sector dialogues on national economic direction on sectoral basis.

Within the year, 2008, Breakfast Policy Dialogues were held on the Power Sector, Value Re-orientation and Ethics, Science Technology and Customs and Ports Reforms

Post-AGM Lecture and Luncheon

Usually, the Annual General Meeting of the Board of the NESG is followed with a lecture by renowned expert or technocrat in specific fields or areas of the economy. The latest edition held on March 27, 2008. It was addressed by Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, then Honourable Minister of Finance as Guest Speaker.

There are series of summits and conferences within the advocacy programme of the company. They are often done in collaboration with stakeholders in each sector including private and public institutions. Some of these meetings include:

1. Annual Agriculture Summit

The NESG through its Policy Commission on Agriculture and Food Security hosts an annual summit of stakeholders in the agriculture sector. It is meant to explore new ways of enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of the sector, including policy requirements. It is often hosted in collaboration with some institutions, both public and private (such as state governments).The last edition was the 6^th in the series.

In response to the global food crisis, and the need to sensitize both local and international stakeholders on the reality of food security concern in Africa and Nigeria in particular, the NESG (in collaboration with First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Agro –Nigeria) introduced the International Conference on Food Security. The first edition was held at the Abuja in 2008 and was hoped to be sustained by the collaborating promoters.

The NESG in collaboration with the National Planning Commission organises an annual Nigerian Economic Summit which is the highest level of public-private economic dialogue in Nigeria. The last edition and the fourteenth in the series had the theme “The Race to 2020: The Realities. The Challenges” and held in October, 2008 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. The NES is aimed at providing the foremost public-private sector platform for forging a national consensus on economic policy direction and developing a blue-print for implementation

Policy Commissions

The Policy Commissions are the organs through which the recommendations of the NESG advocacy activities (including the NES and other meetings) are further developed and supported with follow-up on implementations. There are eight (8) Policy Commissions. Their leaderships include chairmen (public and private sector co-chairs), a facilitator, consultant, a coordinator and a schedule officer.

The Policy Commissions include Agriculture & Food Security, Science & Technology, Oil & Gas and No-oil Non-Agriculture sectors. Others are Investment Climate & Competitiveness, Governance and Institutions building, Human Capital and Infrastructure.

Regular Programs

(1)   Post AGM Lecture

(2)   Monthly or Quarterly Policy Dialogue Series

(3)   Annual Nigerian Economic Summit

(4)   Annual Agriculture Summit

(5)   Policy Commission Activities

The Government and Institutions Policy Commission in May 20, 2008 held a Policy Dialogue on Value Re-orientation and Ethics which was attended by representations of the Lagos State Government, Civil Society Organisation and Private Sector Executives. 

The Coalition for Issues-based Politics and Good Governance (CIPOGG) is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) Governance and Institution Policy Commission. It was formed to interact on issues-based politics during the April 2007 elections and to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy by promoting responsive politics by way of creating a strong network of critical stakeholders capable of serving as mainstay for Nigeria’s democracy by promoting Issue Based Interactions (IBI) during and after elections.

*    Improve policy dialogue between citizens and their leaders

*   Improve the policy landscape by embedding reforms in the political and policy arena,

*   Promote accountability

*    Contribute a framework for effective service delivery and good governance

The Lagos CIPOGG actively interfaced with Stakeholders in partnership with Lagos State Government in the identification of expectations on the constitutional roles in Lagos State

In continuing implementation of the Nucleus Estate Initiative (NEI), the Policy Commission launched the NESG Rice Network in July 8, 2008 at Hilton Hotel, Abuja. It conducted a study on Fertilizer Policy Implementation in Nigeria in 2008.

(A)    Policy Dialogue on Ports and Customs Reforms in Nigeria

(B)    National Forum on Tourism Development in Nigeria in July/August 2008.

(C)    National Retreat on Tourism Investment in Nigeria in June. 

The Policy Commission held a dialogue on Power Sector Reforms and in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, another Stakeholders Forum on the “Revitalization of the Nigerian Railway System”.

Oil and Gas Policy Commission

The Policy Commission, collaboration with the NNPC, held a conference on "Local Content in the Oil Industry," in Abuja.  It also held stakeholders meeting with an objective to resolving the Niger Delta Conflict in a sustainable manner.

Human Capital Policy Commission

The PC had a two (2)-day Stakeholders’ Forum tagged Human Development Regional Conferences in Kano and Kaduna. The theme was "Health and Education as Key Drivers for the development of Human Capital".

Science and Technology PC

A Policy Dialogue on Science and Technology was held in Lagos with the theme: "Science, Engineering Technology and Innovation". The Honourable Minister for Science and Technology at the time, Chief Mrs. Grace Ekpiwhre was in attendance.