From the Nation newspaper
President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday in Abuja that the 2014 budget and beyond would be designed to encourage the manufacturing sector for employment generation.
Jonathan said this at the inauguration of the Board of the National Competitive Council of Nigeria (NCCN) in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa.
The council, which is chaired by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, is charged with the responsibility of, among other things, proposing policies and recommendations that will enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness ranking and revitalise the economy.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 18-member board is also expected to generate policies and programmes that will attract domestic and foreign investment particularly in the manufacturing sector, create sales for local businesses and more markets for products made in Nigeria.
The president said, “Government will continue to support private initiatives and encourage private bodies to key into our transformation agenda. We have to commend the private sector for their commitment in setting up this body that will help government and the private sector.
“I wish the pioneer NNCC board every success in this assignment and I have every confidence that you will not let our nation down. We believe that without encouraging the private sector, especially the manufacturing sector, we cannot get out of the current economic position no matter how we struggle to produce primary produce, they will not create enough jobs for this country.
“That is why for the next two years and may be beyond 2015, Nigerian budget will be geared towards encouraging manufacturing sector in this country.”