Sanctions await executive order defaulters, says minister

From Uche Usim, Abuja

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, has advised those in charge of implementing the executive order recently signed by Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to carry out their duties diligently, as defaulters would face unpalatable sanctions.
In an interview with journalists in Abuja recently, the minister said: “Let me start by quoting the Acting President. He said, when he addressed civil servants last week, that it is a new day. It’s only a person who is insensitive, inattentive or unwise that will treat these executive orders as business as usual.
“So, the first thing today is that these are rules and regulations of engagement of government and the civil servants understand the importance of rules.
“Number two is that the reason why we are having a meeting like this is that the public is also made aware and the citizens are empowered with information and understanding of their right so that they, in effect, can demand those services, because that is what the law says.”
Enelamah said in each authority or agency, the head would be held accountable for any wrongdoing.
“I can tell you that, in my ministry, we have already met to talk about how to go about the implementation. There must be accountability. We are going to need a task force, implementing bodies and all that. There are a number of agencies already doing that. There is an agency of government called SERVICOM that is clearly there on how to provide service to the public,” he added.
The minister also said an enabling business environment secretariat was being set up, and it would focus on implementing the executive order, particularly number one, which centres on transparency and ease of doing business and enabling environment.
“I think by far the most important thing is that as we demand more from our people and there are consequences for not doing the right thing, you will find out that we will change. I am positive that it is not going to be business as usual and the media has an important role to play to keep publicising the orders and to keep reminding citizens of their rights and keep engaging stakeholders,” Enelamah said.