How NECA-CISLAC Alliance Will Reshape Nigeria’s Governance, Economy – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

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The Nigeria Employers’ Con­sultative Association (NECA) and the Civil Society Legisla­tive Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) have entered into a groundbreaking partnership aimed at strengthening governance, promoting responsible business conduct, and shaping Nige­ria’s economic future.

The alliance, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently, in Abuja, is being described as both timely and strategic, given the nation’s persistent socio-economic challenges.

The collaboration underscores a rec­ognition that while business and civil society may operate in distinct spheres, their interests are deeply intertwined.

Both organisations argue that Nige­ria’s growth requires not just economic development but also governance re­forms anchored in transparency, ac­countability, and fairness.

From the perspective of NECA, which is invariably the voice of organ­ised business, and founded in 1957, it has grown into Nigeria’s foremost um­brella body representing private sector employers.

Over nearly seven decades, it has played a central role in shaping nation­al economic discourse.

Its mandate covers enterprise sus­tainability, decent work, industrial harmony, and advocacy for policies that improve competitiveness and the ease of doing business.

NECA’s members cut across critical industries, manufacturing, oil and gas, finance, agriculture, and telecommuni­cations, making it a powerful force in Nigeria’s economic landscape.

The association has consistently en­gaged government in policy dialogue on taxation, regulatory frameworks, la­bour market policies, and, more recent­ly, climate-related transitions affecting industries.

According to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, Nigeria still struggles with bureaucratic bottle­necks that discourage investment.

NECA has been at the forefront of addressing these issues, advocating for reforms that improve competitiveness, attract investment, and create jobs.

On the part of CISLAC, it has being in the business of relentlessly cham­pioning transparency and civic rights.

Established in 2005, it has estab­lished itself as one of Nigeria’s most influential non-governmental organi­sations.

As the national chapter of Transpar­ency International, CISLAC has built its reputation on promoting account­ability, civic participation, and rights-based governance.

Its advocacy has spanned public fi­nance management, anti-corruption reforms, budget monitoring, and the defense of civil liberties.

CISLAC has played a central role in ensuring that Nigeria aligns with glob­al standards on transparency, including commitments under the Open Govern­ment Partnership (OGP).

Its work has also amplified grass­roots voices, ensuring that policy de­bates remain people-centered.

Not only has CISCLAC been serving as a check on government excesses, it has strongly been acting as a watch­dog, highlighting the misuse of public resources and pushing for systemic reforms that prioritise accountability and fairness.

By partnering with NECA, it brings legitimacy, civic credibility, and grass­roots reach into the advocacy space.

At this juncture, it is expedient to throw insight to why the partnership matters.

To start with, the MoU identifies priority areas of joint advocacy that cut across public policy, which entails engaging policymakers to design re­forms that balance growth with social welfare, responsible business conduct, which ensures ethical practices and corporate citizenship.

The partnership, as gathered by Daily Independent, will push for a transpar­ent and equitable tax regime, even as it would accelerate ease of doing business as it promises to remove red tape that stifles enterprise development.

Also bound to be subjected to im­provement is decent work as the part­nership is capable of protecting labor rights and advocating for safe and fair workplaces.

The partnership is also bound to be a betterment to climate change as it would promote sustainable and green practices within industries.

Also is gender inclusion as the part­nership promises to address gender disparities and ensures women’s par­ticipation in governance and business.

Observers argue that these areas are critical for Nigeria’s long-term stabili­ty. Without good governance, business competitiveness suffers.

Without strong private sector growth, employment and social stabil­ity are jeopardised.

The partnership, therefore, rep­resents an effort to break the cycle of fragmented advocacy.

Mr. Patrick Uwem, an economist, in his view said, “Such partnerships are indispensable. While the private sector drives economic reforms with its influence, civil society plays a vi­tal role in ensuring transparency and accountability. Working together, they can advance reforms that are not only economically viable but also socially just.”

Similarly, Professor Pat Utomi, a po­litical economist, has long argued that Nigeria’s governance and economy can­not thrive in silos.

“The nexus between accountabili­ty and enterprise cannot be ignored. When businesses operate in a transpar­ent environment, competitiveness im­proves, and trust in governance grows.”

These sentiments underscore why the NECA-CISLAC partnership could represent a turning point in Nigeria’s reform journey.

Mr. Enoch Uweru, a social commen­tator, while expressing his view on the partnership, particularly from the per­spective of the challenges ahead, said

“While the MoU signals commit­ment, implementation will determine its impact. Nigeria’s history is replete with partnerships that faltered due to lack of follow-through, political resis­tance, or vested interests”. Besides, crit­ics caution that for this collaboration to succeed, both organisations must sus­tain momentum beyond the symbolism of the signing ceremony.

Furthermore, aligning private sector interests with civic advocacy may prove complex.

Businesses often prioritise profit­ability, while civil society emphasizes equity and accountability. Balancing these priorities without diluting either mandate will be a delicate task.

On the path forward, Uweru added that “despite the foreseeable challeng­es, the partnership offers more prom­ises than most”, explaining that NECA brings economic influence and access to policymakers, while CISLAC pro­vides civic legitimacy and grassroots advocacy, and added that this balance could help them push through reforms that benefit both businesses and citi­zens.

Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, the Direc­tor-General of NECA, summed up the optimism at the signing event:

“This MoU is not merely a document; it is a symbol of our mutual commit­ment to tackling Nigeria’s most press­ing challenges together.”

“If the partnership maintains focus on key deliverables, tax reforms, ease of doing business, labour rights, and climate-conscious policies, it could re­shape the narrative around collabora­tion between private sector and civil society in Nigeria.

“More importantly, it could serve as a model for how diverse actors can work together to confront the country’s gov­ernance and economic challenges.

In fact, towards a Transparent and Prosperous Nigeria Nigeria’s road to prosperity has long been obstructed by governance deficits, policy incon­sistencies, and weak institutional ac­countability.

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Execu­tive Director of CISLAC, emphasised that the alliance will yield significant results for the business community, and for the entire nation

He specifically said: “This partner­ship is a clear demonstration that prog­ress is best achieved through collabora­tion, not division. It is a testament to the belief that when the private sector and civil society work as allies, we can drive meaningful, lasting transforma­tion”.

The NECA-CISLAC alliance, by bridging the divide between business and civil society, sends a powerful mes­sage: that sustainable progress is best achieved through collaboration, not division.

If the partnership delivers on its promises, it could foster a more trans­parent, predictable, and fair environ­ment where both citizens and enter­prises thrive. In doing so, it may help unlock the much-desired economic re­naissance and social transformation that Nigerians have waited for too long.