Abuja: The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and National Pension Commission (PenCom) as the leading government agencies for exemplary service delivery. The announcement was made by PEBEC Director-General, Princess Zahrah Audu, during a press briefing in Abuja concerning the council’s Mid-Term Assessment of MDAs’ compliance with the Business Facilitation Act (BFA).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Audu highlighted significant enhancements in responsiveness, transparency, and adherence to service delivery timelines among government agencies nationwide. These agencies achieved full compliance with assessment metrics, implementing additional measures to simplify procedures and expedite service delivery timelines.
Audu stated, “Between 2025 and 2026, we can boastfully state that 98 per cent of the 69 MDAs that we track are very responsive. If you call them, you will get a timely response. If you send an email, they will respond, and in terms of service timelines, they are delivering within prescribed timelines.” She emphasized that the agencies met all requirements and exceeded expectations to facilitate easier access for end users.
The Director-General attributed the progress to PEBEC’s 90-day Business Environment Enhancement Accelerator Programme, introduced to address gaps identified in the 2025 Business Facilitation Act Compliance Report. The programme focused on providing technical support to agencies to improve performance, rather than adopting a punitive approach.
Audu also noted the council’s efforts in reviewing licensing requirements and administrative procedures to eliminate outdated processes and reduce regulatory burdens on businesses. Agencies have been encouraged to streamline documentation requirements by leveraging existing government databases to minimize duplication.
Despite the progress, Audu identified the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) as an agency needing further reforms, particularly in digital advertising regulation. PEBEC continues to receive stakeholder complaints and is working closely with ARCON to address challenges and enhance service delivery.
The council plans to sustain its quarterly ‘mystery shopping’ exercise to ensure compliance with the Business Facilitation Act, promoting transparency and accountability in public institutions. Audu announced that the final 2026 Business Facilitation Act Compliance Report would be presented in November by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, PEBEC’s Chairman.