The newly inaugurated Board of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) says it will ensure that necessary reforms required to turn things around for good are carried out in the Commission within the shortest possible time.
The Chairman of the Board, Prince Dapo Abiodun who gave this assurance at its maiden meeting with the staff expressed his determination to bring his private sector initiative and wealth of experience to bear on their job even as he pledged to take the Commission to greater heights.
He recalled that the Commission which had no Board for the past three years, had its inaugural meeting on the 1st of March, 2018 and thought it wise to address the staff on its second meeting as a Governing Board of the CAC. According to him, dialoguing with the staff of the Commission was a rare privilege having come from the private sector background as the CEO of one of the indigenous oil companies as well as the CEO and Chairman of other companies which have enabled him acquire much experiences.
The Chairman expressed delight that he had with him in the Board people with requisite experience, including representative of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), representative of Nigeria Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), representative of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), representative of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), representative of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), representative of Federal Ministry of Justice, representative of Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Ag. Registrar-General of CAC, Lady Azuka Azinge.
He stated that the Board had interacted with the Heads of various departments to understand the staff needs and have received some write-ups. He requested for time and patience as staff needs cannot be solved overnight. However, within a short period, the staff of CAC will see a new CAC and as well as feel it individually.
Prince Dapo Abiodun highlighted two key needs requiring urgent attention; firstly, the need to redefine the existing ICT infrastructure of the Commission which according to him would increase the revenue profile of the Commission. Secondly, to address the issues of staff welfare, including remuneration and training.
He assured of ICT infrastructure enhancement. According to him, “we are going to find the money needed for ICT enhancement and make the Commission’s ICT as robust as it should be. When we do that, we will block all the leakages, become more efficient and more revenue will be generated and we will set milestones for allowances as this is a new CAC”.
The CAC’s Union Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Kerfi, expressed his delight at the choice of the Commission’s Board Chairman particularly his wealth of experience in the Oil Industry as well as being an ICT driven person. He stressed the need to revisit staff welfare package including issue of staff training as well as promotion examination of staff.
Responding, the Board Chairman thanked the Union Chairman for his eloquent speech even as he assured that all the issues mentioned were well noted and will be addressed.
Recall that the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah recently inaugurated the Governing Board of the CAC alongside others in the Ministry including Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), National Automotive Design and Development Centre (NADDC), Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, SMEDAN, Nigeria Commodity Exchange, NEPZA, Lagos Trade Fair Management; and Tafawa Belewa Square.
SIGNED:
Godfrey Ike
HEAD, PUBLIC AFFAIRS
