November 17, 2017

The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) on Friday urged the Federal Government to engage the body in its efforts to implement the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan Policy (ERGP).

Dr Idris Omede, the APBN President made the call at the association’s board meeting, hosted by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Abuja.

He said that the areas of engagement in the ERGP should include development and infrastructural projects, among other schemes aimed at fast-tracking the nation’s development.

He stressed that the objectives of APBN, which was the umbrella association of the majority of professional bodies in the country, included the promotion of good governance and leadership in the country.

Omede advised the government to desist from engaging only one professional body for input into its economic and, infrastructural projects, among others, adding that the government should instead deal with APBN which comprised many professional bodies.

He also urged the government to provide Nigerian professionals with the good opportunities, incentives and environment that were akin to the ones given to the foreign professionals working in the country.

Omede said that the APBN meeting was aimed at addressing some contemporary issues relating to security, the 2018 budget, engagement of Nigerian professionals and local content.

He said that other themes of the meeting included restructuring of ministries, department and agencies (MDAs); constitution of councils and boards for professional bodies and MDAs; some bills awaiting the consideration of the National Assembly and fight against corruption.

“We call on the various arms of government and organised private sector to accommodate the role of APBN in the execution of their policies and programmes, as such collaboration and relations with APBN will accelerate national development,’’ he said.

While speaking on the country’s local content policy, Omede urged professionals in construction industries to optimise the production and use of local building or construction materials in housing and other infrastructural projects.

He also urged medical and health sector to promote the local production of human drugs, medical laboratory chemicals and reagents, vaccines and veterinary drugs, among others.

“However, the government must necessarily have a strong political will to drive this; it should be part of its ways of ensuring the ease of doing business in the country,’’ he said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of APBN include NMA, Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria, Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, among others.