Delay in signing 2016 budget gives Nigeria bad image abroad — NECA

THE Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, has bemoaned the prolonged delay in signing and implementing the 2016 budget, saying that such development gives Nigeria bad image before the comity of nations. This is just as the management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF and NECA have concluded plans to convene an interactive forum in July on Safe Workplace Intervention Programme, SWIP, to provide employers who have complaints about its services to ventilate their positions. The Director-General of NECA, Segun Oshinowo, who lamented the delay in resolving the controversy on 2016 budget in an interview with journalists shortly after the Acting Managing Director of NSITF, Ismail Agaka visited him in his office, wondered why those responsible with the drafting and passing the budget would not complete and pass budget before the beginning of any fiscal year. Meanwhile, the NSITF boss has called for the institutionalisation of  corporate governance structures to boost its operations. Agaka explained that, “Corporate governance is a system, methods, processes and procedures that governs organizational businesses. Where there is a breakdown in the procedure, there would be negative impact not only on the organization, but also on other stakeholders who relate with the organization. “It is no secret that not only NSITF, but also the public sector over the years has witnessed this dysfunctional corporate governance. What we are therefore doing at the NSITF is in tandem with the change mantra of the present administration.” The NECA DG while commenting on the impasses the non-passage of the 2016 appropriation bill has caused, explained that such a development was an indictment on Nigerians as a people. According to him, “The inability of the National Assembly and executive to produce the 2016 budget is saying something silently loud about our country. I think it is shameful that there is no budget four months into the year.