FG restates commitment to reform NIS
Reforms
By Abiodun Azi
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says the Federal Government is committed to implementing various reforms in the ministry and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
Tunji-Ojo spoke to newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday after a meeting with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
The minister described the gathering as a “family meeting,” emphasising NECA’s role as a strategic partner.
He acknowledged the critical contributions of the private sector to socio-economic development.
He said the meeting focused on reviewing strategies, enhancing government performance, promoting private sector growth, and making decisions that aligned with the interests of Nigerians and the economy.
“It is not just about CERPAC reforms alone, there were a lot of reforms because it is our responsibility to make life easier for Nigerians and expatriates.
“We need strategic partnership with NECA, affiliate organisations and other agencies; we need to cooperate to take decisions as a team.
” What’s important to us is what is important to them and what’s that? Interest of Nigerians, ” he said.
According to the minister, this is our country and we can actually do the unimaginable.
“We can achieve the seemingly unachievable when we are united in our approach and understanding,” saying, ” we have shared values.”
He reassured Nigerians that the ministry of interior in line with its citizenship business responsibilities was actively collaborating to realise its set objectives.
He hinted that there was an agreement for these meetings to occur at least twice a year, rather than being a one-off event, particularly to address their concerns, especially those affecting their businesses.
Tunji-Ojo said that reforms had to continue, noting that it was a work in progress.
According to him, a lot has been done with regard to CERPAC, expatriate quota, business permit and a lot of things, even work flow in terms of border control and how it affects NIS.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NECA, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, stated that while governance was often seen as complex and challenging, “when you have visionaries running the system, you realise it is one of the simplest things to do.”
Oyerinde noted that a key aspect of the discussions was the need for stakeholders to engage constructively.
He added that all stakeholders in the Nigerian project commended the government for opening channels of engagement.
He highlighted that the most significant outcome was the consensus to establish a committee that would collaborate to review several key issues.
He said that work on all the identified areas would commence within the next week.(NAN)
Editing by Kevin Okunzuwa
