FG ESTABLISHES NIGERIAN NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL

By NBF News

The Federal Government has approved the setting up of Nigerian National Competitiveness Council to drive healthy competition in business.  President Goodluck Jonathan announced the decision at the 12th meeting of the Honorary International Investor Council (HIIC) at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

HIIC, coordinated by Baroness Lynda Chalker of Wallasey, was inaugurated in 2004 to attract global financial players to the Nigerian economy. Jonathan told the local and international business moguls that make up the HIIC that creating the agency was in line with the recommendation of the World Economic Forum.

'This council shall be the focal body responsible for creating awareness on national competitiveness in the country, It would coordinate the efforts of both the public and private sectors to improve Nigeria's competitiveness,' he said.

Jonathan said the council would also recommend relevant policies and monitor and evaluate the progress being made at the national and sub-national levels. The president disclosed that a bill, Competition, Anti-Trust and Consumer Protection Bill, would soon be forwarded by the National Council on Privatisation to the National Assembly for consideration.  'These are all efforts aimed at improving the competitive landscape.