Franklin Alli and Blessing Ohakpo
16 October 2008
In order to facilitate unification of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) into one group, a top notch in the private sector has called on the National Assembly to pass a law that will ensure that "we have only one body for OPS."Currently, OPS comprises MAN, NACCIMA and NECA.
The top notch who spoke with Vanguard, on condition of anonymity lamented that the fragmentation is unfortunate stressing "When we are able to come under one body, we will be able to speak as 'one voice', our voice will be stronger and government will listen to our views on economic policies," he said.
He noted that the fragmentation in OPS is all politics. " it is government that encouraged the formation of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). They wants to use divide and rule principle all the time to the benefit of government, that is the reason they created NACCIMA; and most of the people that went to MAN were all members of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
"It is all because people want position and when they cannot get it, the leave to go and start another one and it is the government that encourages this,"said source.
This, he asserted, is the practice all over the world and emphasising that legislators should draft a bill to that effect. It will be recalled that the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Engr. Charles Ugwuh, has umpteenth times called for uniting of the OPS body into one.
In his words, "when I look at OPS I feel dismayed. You are fragmented and weak. A situation where we have a multiplicity of organizations seeking audience with government basically on common issues does not augur well for Nigeria's economic development."
He stressed that in Tanzania for instance, all business activities are regulated by the Tanzanian National Business Council (TNBC), while the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), comprising of some 330 organizations, companies and individual is the umbrella body of the private sector. In Denmark, it is the Confederation of Danish Industries (DI) that represents about 6,600 businesses in that country.
India has the confederation of Indian Industries (CII), which works through advisory and consultative processes, while, the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), which represents about 15,000 companies generating business opportunities and values is the voice of business in that country.
"Nigeria's private sector has a lot to learn from these countries. Obviously, there is strength in unity and there could not have been a better time than now for Nigeria's businesses to unite especially in their dealings with government. I leave it to you to work out the modalities of such a union" he said.
The idea of Nigeria's private sector government has shown willingness to accommodate the voice of the private sector in this Council but it is also left for business to organize itself to leverage this opportunity.
In recognition of the importance of trade visits, fairs and product exhibitions especially as effective outlets to show case products and services to large numbers of customers and potential clients world wide, I am willing, as much as possible encourage the participation of Nigeria's businesses in these International events.
However, the choice of who participates in any of these shows from the private sector will be made a lot easier if only our businesses could unite under one umbrella. That way, we would aspire to some level of fairness and equity in the selection process.
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