The Honorary International Investors? Council (HIIC) has adopted an anti-corruption initiative, termed“Clean Business Nigeria Today?? (CBNT) to compliment government efforts in fighting corruption in the country.
This was disclosed by the Coordinator of the Council, Baroness Lynda Chalker of Wallasey, while briefing journalists on the outcome of a two-day meeting of HIIC at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.
She explained that the initiative is targeted at integrating the private sector into the efforts of government to frontally deal with the menace of corruption.
She also disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan would serve as the Grand Patron of the initiative.
“The Council resolve to add to the government efforts to fighting corruption and we have today adopted the Clean Business Nigeria Plan as a means of integrating the private sector in to the efforts of government to deal with the issues of corruption that arise all over the place.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be the Grand Patron of the Initiative and we will work with the `Business Against Corruption? initiative, chaired by Dr Christopher Kolade.
“Our own initiative will be worked on by Mr Emmanuel Ijewere and make sure that we can really hope that Nigerians people to eliminate the large amount of corruption in this country and of course which is a big problem,?? she said.
Also speaking at the briefing the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, said that CBNT is a private sector initiative with support of the federal government.
“It is council initiative but driven by the private sector and supported by the government.
“The rationale behind this is that, when you talk about corruption, it manifest not just in government but also in the private sector..
“What we are doing to get the private sector to commit to, is that they will not give bribe to start with and that in way no one gives bribe and no one takes bribe and this will cover illicit flows in the system,
“You may recall that only last week at the G8 meeting in London,? it focused on the three Ts; Trade, Tax and Transparency, and transparency is about how government and the private sector becomes far more transparent in their dealings,?? he said.
In a general assessment of the performance of Jonathan?s administration said there was steady achievement in all sector of the economy.
Chalker, who gave the assessment, commended the Administration on progress attained specifically in the implementation of Council?s recommendations on developing of the economy that has stabilized the currency against international currencies.
She said Council also commended government on the development in the agriculture revolution taking place in the value chain.
The Council, according to Chalker also commended ?the on-going privatization of the power sector and efficient management of the 2013 flood disaster without experiencing food crisis.
Chalker said Council confirmed the increasing interest shown by international investing community on the Nigerian economy.
She said it is an indication of improved perception and confidence of the international community on the management of the economy.
Chalker also said that government should adopt deliberate policies that will create enabling business climate to support local investors to transform industrial sector.
The Council which was inaugurated in 2004 as a Presidential advisory body to attract global financial players in to the Nigerian economy and charged with the responsibilities of looking in to Nigeria investment environment, give advice on areas to improve on as well as attract businessmen across the world to take interest in investing in Nigeria.
