Vice President Kashim Shettima stated on Monday that the federal government must maintain constant dialogue with the business community, warning that ignoring employers prevents a full grasp of the nation’s economic landscape. Represented by Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar at the 5th Nigerian Employers’ Summit in Abuja, Shettima emphasized that the administration is working to digitize processes and eliminate administrative hurdles to ensure national policy reforms reach businesses in major hubs like Lagos, Kano, and Aba.
During the event, the Vice President highlighted that private sector competitiveness relies on reliable energy, predictable policies, and functional infrastructure rather than sentiment. He defended the difficult economic reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu, noting that sustainable prosperity requires both the vision to identify necessary changes and the courage to execute them despite short-term challenges. He argued that removing fuel subsidies and stabilizing the foreign exchange market were essential steps toward building a transparent, market-driven economy.
Addressing the issue of taxation, Shettima assured that the government aims to harmonize tax administration and reduce multiple levies to support small businesses while widening the tax base. He reiterated that the administration is focused on removing obstacles that inflate business costs. NECA Director-General Adewale Oyerinde noted that the summit has become a vital bridge between the private sector and the government, announcing plans to transition the event into an International Employers’ Summit by 2027.
