Rabiu Urges Government To Create Enabling Environment For Businesses

CHANNELS TV

A public affairs analyst, Rabiu Rabiu has called on the Nigerian government to provide an enabling environment for citizens to start businesses and enterprise.

He maintained that “the vast opportunities in Nigeria are untapped” and therefore challenged the government to stand up to its role of trying to make the public understand that ‘this is yours’.

He said this while discussing the country’s progress after 56 years of independence, and the most recent ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign which has resulted in an array of ideas and suggestions, at a time when Nigeria’s economy is in a recession.

Since the President’s flag-off of the campaign, there have been several reactions as Nigerians in some quarters say the government ought to remove the log in its eye before asking citizens to remove the speck in their eyes.

Some also believe that the campaign shouldn’t have come at a time of economic hardship.

Mr Rabiu rejects any attempt of the government to direct the message solely to the citizens, adding that “the government is part of the people.

“The message was across board and not just to the people. It is also to those especially in government because so much is coming out of government that is not expected,” he added.

He also asserted that beyond being chanted as a mantra, the Change Begins With Me initiative is meant to be taken on an individual level where everyone looks inward to assess their own contributions to the change agenda.

Purposeful Leadership

Speaking on the increased rate of unemployment and how that has led to various vices in the country, Mr Rabiu said although the government is trying to fight the vices, it takes more than just the government.

He therefore called on all business leaders, saying they have a very big role to play as employers of labour.

He added that once the government can provide opportunities for people to grow businesses that can prosper, there will be peace across the land.

However, he thinks this can only exist when there are policies, programs and purposeful leadership on the part of the government.

In order to drive that, Mr Rabiu said “the democratic system should try and identify candidates that are vying for offices.

“Look at their track records, look at the leadership recruitment process,” he added.