The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated the boards of four parastatals under the Ministry of Trade and Investment with a warning to the boards not to interfere with the day-to-day operations of the respective agencies.
The parastatals whose boards were inaugurated are the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigerian Export Promotion Council and Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority.
The 10-member CAC board has Mr. Funsho Lawal as Chairman, while some of the other members are Prof. Adedeji Adekunle and Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu.
For the NEPC, its 11-member board has Mrs. Grace Clark as Chairman and Ambassador Asalina Mamuno and Alhaji Salisu Umar as members, among others.
OGFZA’s 14-member board is led by Mr. Chris Asoluka, with Gen. Geofrey Ejiga (retd.) and Mrs. Mary Mbu, among others, as members.
For SON, the 10-member board has Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha as Chairman, while Mr. Abubakar Magaji and Mrs. Roseline Ekun, are prominent members.
Speaking during the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, said members of the newly constituted boards comprised men and women of integrity with vast knowledge and experience in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The minister, who was represented by the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, said, “A careful look at the composition of the various boards show that most of the members are not only knowledgeable and highly experienced, but are also key players in their various fields in the public and private sectors of the economy.
“This is definitely a great advantage to the agencies concerned as they will be able to benefit, not only from the tremendous goodwill of their board members, but also from their wealth of deep knowledge.
“Boards of parastatals are responsible for setting out broad economic, financial, operational and administrative guidelines and targets for their various agencies. They are concerned with policy issues, monitoring of institutional projects/programmes and ensuring that the parastatals’ mandates are realised.”
Aganga enjoined the new board members to adhere strictly to the provisions of the enabling Acts of their respective agencies as well as financial regulations and guidelines on administrative procedures.