14/09/2018
Need for the government at all levels and the public in general to recognise, patronise and encourage the indigenous companies
It is not new that the foreign companies operating in Nigeria have been given more attention by the government, and many members of the public prefer them than the indigenous companies, despite government’s preaching on patronising made in Nigeria which supposed to be matched with action. Majority of the indigenous companies enjoy less or no attention from the government and from a lot of members of the public but the foreign companies often get preferential treatment from both the government and members of the public. Only the poor are mostly seen giving attention to products and services of aboriginal (Indigenous) companies by patronising them.
The action of the government and the citizenry towards the indigenous companies is very bad but both justified their action by rating high the quality of goods and services provide by the foreign companies, and at the same time, complained and expressed their dissatisfaction over the low quality of goods and services provide by the home-grown companies.
However, they have failed to realised that these foreign companies have for long gotten the needed support from their governments and citizens of their respective countries to enable them operate and deliver the needed services before extending their services to other countries of the world including Nigeria.
It is rare to see a foreign government offered contract to a Nigerian company operating in its country and to see its citizens ignoring their indigenous companies to patronise a Nigerian company in their country.
Note: there is nothing wrong in patronising the foreign companies in Nigeria because they offer jobs to our unemployed youth. So, by patronising them it will help sustain the jobs offered to the youth and create more jobs for other unemployed youth.
Therefore, the problem is ignoring the indigenous companies to patronise only the foreign companies, the problem is not giving the needed and the enough support to the indigenous companies by the government and the citizens, the problem is not giving the enabling environment to the indigenous companies by the government, the problem is not appreciating what we have and many more.
On the government’s role in softening the ground or creating an enabling environment for both the indigenous and the foreign companies to excel for the interest of our nation, procedures involved before the establishment of a company in the country are too many and tricky. Therefore, should be amended. Also, the needed requirements for companies interested in government’s contracts are as well too many and difficult to attain, and should be adjusted.
For example, Daily Trust Newspaper of 7th August, 2018, page 34, carried an advertisement entitled: “Invitation to Tender for the Ex*****on of 2018 Capital Projects”. It was an advertisement from the Federal Ministry of Health, meant for the interested companies that would like to apply for the available contracts in the ministry. The following were given as the eligibility requirement and qualification criteria for the interested companies:
1 Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation with Corporate Affairs
Commission (CAC).
2 Evidence of Current Pension Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December,
2018.
3 Evidence of Company Income’s Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three (3)
years valid till 31st December, 2018.
4 Evidence of Current Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid
till 31st December, 2018.
5 Certificate of Compliance from Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSNTF)
till 31st December, 2018.
6 Evidence of Registration of the National Data Database of Federal Contractors,
Consultants and Service Providers by Submission of Interim Registration Report
(IRR) expiring 1/1/2019 or valid Certificate issued by BPP.
7 Evidence of registration with relevant Regulation Agencies.
8 Evidence of financial capacity to execute the project including Reference Letter
from a reputable commercial bank indicating willingness to provide credit
facility for the ex*****on of the project when needed.
8 Evidence of Manufacturer’s Authorisation of leadership/distributorship
appointment where applicable (Note that only authorization letter from BPP
approved list of Manufacturer and Equipment for Tertiary Hospitals will be
considered).
9 List of Plants/Equipment with proof of ownership/lease (Where applicable).
10 Company profile with the curriculum vitae of key staff to be deployed for the
project including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications and
registration with professional bodies.
ETC.
Aside the above listed requirements, there are others not included, just for securing a contract from the Federal Ministry of Health. Any individual interested in establishing a company must visit more than ten government offices or agencies to register and also go through a lot when interested in getting a contract from the government. Nothing good comes easy but too much of everything is bad.
The processes or procedures are too many and something should be done thereby creating or choosing one agency where all the interested individuals can register their companies. Thereafter, similar thing should be done in respect to securing a contract from the government.
Nasir Usman Sami,
Managing Director,
NUL Synergy Limited,
Utako,
Abuja.
[email protected]
www.nulsynergy.com
+234 8099943777
