The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called for more inclusive economic reforms that directly support private sector growth and national development. This appeal comes ahead of its highly anticipated Employers’ Summit set for June 25–26, 2025, in Abuja.
At a press briefing, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, NECA’s Director-General, emphasized the need for stronger alignment between government policies and private sector realities. Themed “Enabling Sustainable Enterprise in a Transitioning Economy: Aligning Fiscal, Trade, and Regulatory Reforms for Inclusive Development,” the summit seeks to address the structural challenges facing businesses and the Nigerian economy.
Mismatched Policies Hindering Progress
Smatt-Oyerinde pointed out that while initiatives like the ‘Nigeria First’ policy encourage local production and consumption, they risk backfiring due to the high cost of doing business in the country. He argued that policy decisions without private sector input often result in economic inefficiencies and missed opportunities for growth.
“There’s a need for the government to align its various reforms with the private sector so as not to end up hurting businesses and stifling economic growth,” he said.
He added that the summit would offer a vital platform for dialogue between the public and private sectors to forge a coherent and forward-looking reform agenda.
Aims of the 2025 Employers’ Summit
According to Victoria Uwadoka, Chairperson of the Summit Planning Committee, the event is structured to move beyond dialogue into catalytic action.
“This summit is about uniting leaders across sectors to tackle Nigeria’s most pressing enterprise challenges with clarity and courage,” she stated.
Core Objectives:
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Drive reform consensus around fiscal, trade, and regulatory systems.
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Promote inclusive policy frameworks for sustainable enterprise.
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Foster public-private sector collaboration anchored on mutual accountability.
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Define an institutional roadmap for long-term economic inclusion.
Topics & Participation
The summit will feature:
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Keynote addresses from Vice President Kashim Shettima and key federal ministers (Finance, Industry, Interior, FCT).
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Expert panels on:
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Tax reform
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Trade facilitation
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Digital entrepreneurship
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Labour policy
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Masterclasses on strategic enterprise development
Uwadoka reiterated that this year’s summit will be a solution-driven gathering—uniting government, business leaders, civil society, and international partners around shared growth goals.
Broader Context
As Nigeria navigates post-subsidy realities and currency reforms, the NECA summit provides a timely opportunity to examine how the private sector can thrive in a volatile but transitioning economy. The association insists that economic transformation will not succeed without the empowerment of enterprises, especially SMEs that form the backbone of national productivity.
With policy misalignment threatening progress, NECA’s 2025 Employers’ Summit is set to play a pivotal role in charting a more inclusive, enterprise-led economic future for Nigeria.
