In a bid to enhance members’ capacity on economic development and tax reform, the House of Representatives is set to hold a two-day retreat on economic transformation and development.
This initiative comes hot on the heels of a recent national dialogue on Policing.
Akin Rotimi, the Spokesman of the House, announced that the retreat, slated for April 30th, will take place at the Abuja Continental Hotel (formerly Abuja Sheraton) and will be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Themed “Navigating Change: Legislative Strategies for Economic Transformation,” the retreat is a collaborative effort between the House and key stakeholders, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung. Rotimi emphasized the significance of the legislature in shaping the economic trajectory of the nation, citing the House’s Legislative Agenda which prioritizes Economic Growth and Development.
The retreat aims to deepen members’ understanding of critical issues such as the Petroleum Industry Act’s role in transforming the oil and gas sector, parliament’s involvement in tax reforms, and the importance of effective oversight in public financial management and tax administration.
Notable stakeholders expected to participate in the two-day event include Mele Kolo Kyari, Group CEO of NNPCL, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Oil & Gas, and Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary of NEITI.
The event will also see the presence of key figures such as Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Wale Edun, Minister of Finance, and Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Furthermore, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio and former Speakers of the House including Aminu Bello Masari, Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, Yakubu Dogara, and Femi Gbajabiamila, who is also the Chief of Staff to the President, are expected to participate.
Rotimi highlighted that the retreat will include panel discussions and interactive sessions aimed at equipping participants with practical tools and strategies to enhance legislative and overs ight work.