The new President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Emeka Obegolu, has urged both Federal and State Governments to deal with the problem of multiple taxation to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and create jobs.
\n\u201cWe must confront multiple taxation and eliminate it. We must put Nigerians to work\u201d, Barrister Obegolu said at his inauguration ceremony as the 12th President of the ACCI in Abuja, recently.
\n\u201cWe must never forget that it is the private sector \u2013 not the government \u2013 that is the engine of economic opportunity. Businesses, particularly small businesses, flourish and can provide good jobs when the government acts as a productive partner\u201d, he said.
\nCommending the Federal Government\u2019s bold move to remove fuel subsidy and its initiatives such as the unification of the foreign exchange market and the student loan programme, he said though the measures may have initially tested Nigerians\u2019 resilience,\u00a0 they will, with time, yield the desired results.
\nObegolu urged the government to deepen the collaboration with the private sector, represented by the chamber of commerce, a partnership that, he said, has the potential to significantly benefit the business community, the society at large, and the national economy.
\nObegolu said because of the nature of Nigeria\u2019s strategic and national security challenges, there is a need for everyone to work together with the national security and defence architecture to ensure pragmatic and visible support for national security and defence and; promote public cooperation across the sectors.
\nHe said the ACCI will in conjunction with the defence and national security leadership institute, organise an annual summit on security, defence, and business to review and proffer solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria as a nation.
\n\u201cThis will foster confidence and assurance that Nigeria is a safe destination for investment\u201d, he stated.
\nHe promised that under his watch, ACCI would proactively adapt to the evolving landscape. He also said his presidency will prioritise collaboration with the government and other non-state stakeholders, and capacity building within the ACCI team, enhancing management processes for improved efficiency and productivity.
\n\u201cI have spent my working life in the private sector, 25 years in the private sector. I understand that when the government takes money out of the hands of people, it shrinks their disposable income. If they can\u2019t buy things, the economy doesn\u2019t grow. If the economy\u00a0 doesn\u2019t grow, we won\u2019t put Nigerians to work\u201d, he stated.
\nIn a goodwill message, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, described ACCI as a beacon for innovation and economic growth and a staunch advocate for ease of doing business.
\nHe urged the new ACCI President and his counterparts in other Chambers of Commerce to find programmes to bring the youths closer to the chambers.
\n\u201cBring the youths to the entrepreneurial programmes you have. Please prioritise initiatives that promote inclusion; expose them to opportunities that will make them have confidence in doing the right things\u201d, the lawmaker urged.
\nHe also told the leaders of the various chambers of commerce in the Southeast region to come up with ways of developing themselves and impacting society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The new President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Emeka Obegolu, has urged both Federal and State Governments to deal with the problem of multiple taxation to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and create jobs. \u201cWe must confront multiple taxation and eliminate it. We must put Nigerians to work\u201d, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[705],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n