Lagos, Nigeria – June 16, 2025 – The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called on the Federal Government to realign its fiscal, trade, and regulatory reform policies to create an enabling environment for enterprise development and economic growth.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the 4th Nigeria Employers Summit, NECA’s Director General, Mr. Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, emphasized the urgent need for strategic policy coherence to support businesses amid current economic challenges. The summit, themed “Enabling Sustainable Enterprise in a Transitioning Economy: Aligning Fiscal, Trade, and Regulatory Reforms for Inclusive Development”, will take place from June 25 to 26, 2025, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja.
Smatt-Oyerinde noted that the summit comes at a critical time, as inflation, currency instability, rising unemployment, and regulatory hurdles continue to put pressure on businesses and households. “The Nigerian economy stands at a pivotal crossroads. However, there is a significant opportunity to reposition it for enterprise-led, inclusive, and sustainable growth,” he said.
He stressed the importance of collaboration among government, industry, civil society, and the international community to engage in open, solution-driven dialogue on the nation’s most pressing economic issues. “The summit aims to catalyze bold reforms across key policy domains and to foster strong public-private partnerships based on shared goals and mutual accountability,” he added.
According to Smatt-Oyerinde, sustainable growth can only be achieved through policies that support innovation, investment, and job creation. He urged both the public and private sectors to recommit to policy coherence and work together to implement actionable solutions.
Also speaking, Ms. Victoria Uwadoka, Chairperson of the Nigeria Employers Summit Planning Committee, emphasized the importance of reform collaboration. She said, “It is imperative that the private sector critically engages with ongoing reforms, offering constructive input to ensure they are realistic, impactful, and aligned with business needs.”
Uwadoka highlighted that several policies have not delivered expected outcomes due to lack of thorough stakeholder engagement and practical design. “Unless we develop well-thought-out and workable reform policies, achieving sustainable enterprise and inclusive growth will remain a challenge,” she warned.
This year’s summit will feature keynote addresses by Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside key ministers including those of Finance, Industry, Interior, and the Federal Capital Territory. The programme includes panel discussions and masterclasses on topics such as tax reform, ESG standards, trade facilitation, digital enterprise, and labour policy. Industry leaders, regulators, investors, and development partners will also participate in fireside chats and an enterprise exhibition showcasing innovation, business resilience, and sustainability best practices.
