Industry experts, including representatives from revenue-generating agencies and policy analysts, are set to discuss Nigeria’s pressing issues on revenue generation and infrastructure deficits at the second Annual National Dialogue organized by NPO Reports, a leading online publication.
The dialogue scheduled for November 26, 2024, in Abuja, with the theme: “Revenue Generation, Infrastructure Progress: Options in a Challenged Economy”, will center on strategies to meet the funding needs of critical sectors such as education, health, security, and road infrastructure.
The CEO of S-OK Advisory and Media Limited, the publishers of NPO Reports, Semiu Okanlawon, emphasised the dialogue’s importance in addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges, particularly the deteriorating state of infrastructure.
He highlighted the ongoing struggle of current administrations to secure sufficient funding for sectors plagued by infrastructural decay.
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Okanlawon stated, “The challenge lies in the government’s struggle to generate necessary revenues. Unpredictable oil revenues due to ongoing insecurity and resistance to tax system reforms have exacerbated the issue. Revenue leakages and other economic factors also pose significant threats. The critical question remains: what are the viable solutions?”
The upcoming dialogue, he said, aims to explore sustainable solutions for boosting revenue generation and improving infrastructure in Nigeria.
He noted that this year’s focus follows the inaugural edition in 2023, which addressed political accountability and emphasized the need for holding public officials responsible for their campaign promises.
According to him, NPO Reports, launched as Nigeria Politics Online in April 2010, is among the pioneers of Nigeria’s online news space and is committed to fostering discussions on governance and public welfare.
Prominent speakers expected at the event include: Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adelabu Adedeji, former Postmaster General of the Federation and Chairman of Global West, who will also chair the event, Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi, Senior Research Fellow in the Political and Governance Policy Department at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan, Dr. Hakeem Olatunji Tijani.
Others are the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Tope Fasua, Chief Communication Officer at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Femi Soneye and the representative from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CISI), Idayat Hassan.