The National Secretary of the National Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (NAIPA) Prof. Adesoji Adesugba has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for setting up a high powered investigative administrative committee to unravel the crisis bedevilling the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) under the leadership of Ms. Saratu Umar.

The Staff had penultimate week embarked on a strike action to demand for the immediate sack of the Executive Secretary for alleged “incompetence, high-handedness, fraudulent practices, intimidation and lack of capacity to provide good leadership for the Commission.”

The committee, under the chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, was given five days to submit its findings.

The Panel was said to have concluded its assignment on Monday and will soon present its report to President Goodluck Jonathan through the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga.

Prof. Adesugba, a former chairman of Industrial Arbitration Panel and Secretary General of NAIPA, has called on the president to expedite action on the report and ensure the immediate removal of Ms. Saratu Umar as the Executive Secretary of the commission in order to reposition the agency for greater and optimal performance in promoting and attracting investment into the nation’s economy.

“It is a known fact that the activities of the commission has nose-dived in the last one year since the appointment of Ms. Saratu Umar who appears to be totally unprepared for this highly demanding job, as head of NIPC.

The NAIPA boss noted further that the enviable height the commission has attained with the establishment of One Stop Investment Centre (OSIC) and several reform initiatives, have attracted global attention to Nigeria as a preferred investment destination.

It is quite disheartening, he noted, that the activities of the Centre has been brought down to a low level as investors, both local and foreign, have turned their back at the Centre on account of its recent inactivity.

“OSIC is known for its pro-activeness but today is a shadow of itself, this is very unfortunate. Investment Promotion all over the world is the corner stone of economic transformation and job creation,” he said.

NAIPA as a stake holder on investment matters in Nigeria, therefore, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to do the needful by removing Ms. Umar from the helms of affairs of NIPC and ensure that the Commission is placed on the right pedestal.

“The NIPC that we know is well endowed with competent personnel and experts with good training exposure and requisite experience in promoting the abundant investment potentials of the country to rest of the world.

“It is strongly advisable the Federal Government should look inwards in appointing the next Executive Secretary as Investment Promotion is a highly specialised activity that requires the right skills, experience and comportment,” Prof. Adesugba insists.

Prof. Adesugba further advised the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari to resist the temptation to place charlatans at the helm of affairs of highly strategic agencies.

•Photo shows Saratu Umar.

Update news