Governor Sule signs 2 new executive orders, 1 regulation for business enabling environment

…Announces plan by FG to recover N2bn for palliative

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has signed two new executive orders and one regulation, all aimed at enhancing business enabling environment in the state.

Governor Sule signed the two executive orders and one regulation during the last executive council meeting in 2023, which was held at the Government House on Friday.

According to the Governor, the signing of the two executive orders and one regulation is in line with the various steps taken by his administration since inception to ensure the implementation of far-reaching reforms that will provide seamless platforms for businesses to strive in Nasarawa State.

During the ceremony, Governor Sule signed two executive orders for the adoption of the Framework for Responsible Investment in Land Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) and the implementation of the Nasarawa Governance Result and Efficiency Mechanism (NGREM).

He equally signed a regulation for the strengthening of the Nasarawa State Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA) Law 2020), which seeks to Improve the Framework for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in line with the eligibility criteria for the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) program.

Governor Sule said it has become necessary to sign the executive orders and regulation in order for Nasarawa State to qualify to benefit from the World Bank attached to the institutions drive for enhanced business enabling environment.

“As you are aware, since 2019, when we came in, the administration has taken various steps to ensure that we implement the far-reaching reforms that will provide seamless platforms for businesses to strive in Nasarawa State.

“This decision informed our ensuring that the Nasarawa State Business Enabling Environment (NEBEC), which I still chair, has now been able to serve as SABER, the World Bank’s steering committee changes that we have had,” he said.

He disclosed that the gesture would facilitate for Nasarawa State to qualify in four areas and stands to earn four million dollars as encouragement.

This is just as Governor Sule announced the receipt of communication from the Federal Ministry of Finance detailing plans by the Central Bank to recover the two billion naira given to states as palliative to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy.

“As I already informed you, we only received N2bn each, which we have been using to provide palliatives. Now we are waiting for the remaining N2bn to come. It has not come yet. However, we have now received a letter from the Ministry of Finance asking us to pay back the N2bn we collected. It’s a recovery plan for Federal Government palliative disbursements to federal and state governments by the CBN,” he stated.

He pointed out that deductions from source is expected to commence by latest by January 2024, with states expected to pay back the loan in 24 months.

Explaining further on the two executive orders and regulation, Managing Director/CEO, Nasarawa Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the adoption of FRILIA is to ensure that land acquisition and resettlement for large-scale agribusiness investments are undertaken in line with established international good practices, to ensure long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits, and to guarantee shared benefits between private investors and surrounding communities.

The NASIDA MD added that, NGREM is to streamline government processes, promote transparency, and enhance efficiency in the delivery of public services by requiring all MDAs to Publish Service Level Agreement (SLA), Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and Mandatory Advance Communication rules of upcoming changes for every MDA.

He said the regulation seeks to stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities, and enhance the infrastructural development of the state.

Earlier, in an opening remarks, Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Barrister Mohammed Ubandoma Aliyu, appreciated Governor Sule for demonstrating the rudiments of administration and governance in the state, especially for traveling for over 30 hours while returning from a private visit to the United States and to proceed into full official engagement.