From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
House of Representatives has said it would ensure that companies operating in the country are alive to their Corporate Social Responsibilities ( CSR) in their areas of operation.
The chairman of the Committee, Lilian Orogbu, stated this on Wednesday, at the inaugural meeting of the Committee. Consequently, the lawmaker explained that the Committee has mapped out strategies to ensure implementation of CSRs across the country.
According to her, ” Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR) as we all know is not a new concept in Nigeria, it has been an integral part of many organizations. However, the Speaker of the 10th Assembly, Right Honourable Tajudeen Abbas in his wisdom and with the hindsight of deficit in compliance thought it wise to create CSR Committee.
“The committee has the mandate as outlined in the standing orders of the House of Representatives. to promote and encourage a culture of responsible business practice throughout the nation.”
Orogbu added that “in light of this, the House Committee on CSR aims to promote and encourage a culture of responsible business practices throughout our nation. We believe that every company, regardless of its size or sector, has a role to play in shaping a sustainable future.
“As a Committee, our primary focus will be to create a legislative enabling environment that empowers businesses to embrace CSR as a natural extension of their core operations through interface and oversight.
“To achieve this, we will constantly engage all relevant stakeholders in an extensive dialogue with companies, non-governmental organizations, and expert stakeholders to understand the challenges and opportunities on the ground.”