Gov Abiodun Inaugurates Business Environment Council
By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has inaugurated the state Business Environment Council (BEC), and it will be chaired by the Honourable Commissioner of Finance and Chief Economic Adviser.
Governor Abiodun stated during the inauguration held on Friday 3rd July, 2020, that the council would be tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the state ranking in the ease of doing business is improved significantly and sustainably in all areas of the indices that are measured.
He listed other members of BEC to include Head of Service; representatives of the Ogun State House of Assembly; representatives of each of these other government agencies such as Ministries of Agriculture; Industry, Trade and Investment; Housing; Budget and Planning; Physical Planning and Urban Development, as well as Finance.
Others are Ministries of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Education, Science and Technology; Justice; Bureau of Lands and Survey; and, Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency.
He said: “The Business Environment Council will perform its functions through the following Technical Working Groups: Starting a Business; Acquisition of landed property and transfer of ownership; Construction permit; Registering property; Enforcing contracts; Paying taxes and charges; and Selling to government (Procurement).
“This council will make recommendations to improve our existing processes with the objective of removing bottlenecks, introducing key reforms and initiatives through leveraging on global best practices and lessons learnt in the areas of business environment to facilitate a private sector-led investments and economic growth.
“This council will engender sustainable reforms to bring about improved and more practical approaches towards ease of doing business in our dear state.
“It will support investment promotion through a structured and dedicated approach by proactively engaging the private sector in order to proffer recommendations to remove their pain points and effective engagement with the private sector.
“We thank the World Bank for its support and technical assistance through the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) in the establishment of the BEC.
“At this point, let me reassure all the people of our dear state of our administration’s commitment to the development of all sectors of our state’s economy. All we ask is our people’s continued support, cooperation and understanding.
“Together we will create Ogun State of our dreams and build a more prosperous future for the generations coming.
“At this point, it is with a sense of duty that I inaugurate the Ogun State Business Environment Council and Ogun State Business Environment Secretariat to the glory of God and continued development of our dear state.”
