The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, has spoken out against calls to review Nigeria's Public-Private Partnership (PPP) laws. He made this statement at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES32), where discussions focused on Nigeria's PPP framework. Ewalefoh argued that effective implementation of existing laws is more crucial than rewriting them.
Ewalefoh challenged those advocating for a review of the PPP laws to first assess how much of the existing legislation had been utilised. He highlighted the achievements under the current laws, including the issuance of 13 guidelines in two years, development of a model concession agreement with the Federal Ministry of Justice, and securing presidential approval for project thresholds. These accomplishments, he noted, were achieved under the direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The ICRC chief emphasised that the effectiveness of any legislation depends largely on the commitment and integrity of those responsible for implementing it. He stated that deficiencies in implementation should not automatically be blamed on the legislation or used as justification for introducing new ones. According to Ewalefoh, the existing laws provide a framework that can be fully utilised to achieve more.
Ewalefoh stressed the limitations of legislation in addressing issues of personal conduct and institutional responsibility. He declared that no law can fix a person's character, suggesting that the focus should be on improving implementation rather than rewriting laws. This approach, he believes, can help Nigeria achieve more through its existing PPP framework.
The ICRC director-general's stance is that Nigeria can achieve more by fully deploying the provisions of its existing PPP framework rather than focusing on rewriting the laws. He encouraged stakeholders to work on effective implementation, citing the potential for growth and development through proper utilisation of the current laws.
Ewalefoh's comments come at a time when discussions on Nigeria's PPP framework have been ongoing. The NES32 provided a platform for stakeholders to engage on the issues, with Ewalefoh's perspective adding to the debate. His emphasis on implementation over review is seen as a significant contribution to the conversation.
The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) plays a crucial role in regulating PPPs in Nigeria. Under Ewalefoh's leadership, the commission has taken steps to enhance the implementation of PPP laws, including the development of guidelines and model agreements. The commission's efforts aim to promote effective partnerships between the public and private sectors.
Key points
- Effective implementation of existing PPP laws is more crucial than rewriting them.
- The ICRC has issued 13 guidelines in two years and developed a model concession agreement.
- No law can fix a person's character, emphasising the need for integrity in implementation.
