By Florence Allor
All Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs, have been directed to pause the introduction and rollout of any new policies, regulations, or major regulatory changes until full compliance with the Regulatory Impact Analysis, RIA, Framework is achieved.
This is in line with the federal government’s commitment to strengthening regulatory quality, ensuring policy coherence, and improving the ease of doing business.
The RIA Framework was formally implemented in January 2025, and all MDAs are required to ensure that any new policy or amendment introduced after this date is subject to review and approval in line with the Framework.
The Framework has already been circulated to all MDAs by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and is also available on the PEBEC website. MDAs are therefore expected to familiarize themselves with the Framework and immediately align their policy development processes accordingly.
In a statement signed by the Director General, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, the DG said: “While the government remains committed to working collaboratively with all regulators and does not seek to embarrass any institution, it is imperative to emphasize that no new reform or policy will be permitted to proceed without being grounded in clear, verifiable evidence.
” The RIA Framework provides the structured mechanism through which such evidence-based decisions can be rigorously developed, assessed, and validated.”
She said this directive is necessary to, prevent policy shocks that may adversely affect businesses, investors, and citizens, eliminate policy inconsistencies and frequent reversals (policy flip-flops).
She added that, it is also necessary to institutionalise evidence-based policymaking across government, enhance transparency, predictability, and stakeholder confidence in public policies.
It also ensures adequate stakeholder engagement to drive policy buy-in and minimise resistance or backlash prior to implementation.
Accordingly, the PEBEC DG stated that all MDAs are required to: ” Suspend all planned or proposed policy rollouts that have not yet been formally implemented.
” Ensure that all new policy proposals and any amendments introduced post-January 2025 are supported by a comprehensive Regulatory Impact Analysis, RIA, and receive the necessary approvals.”
She further stated that, they are required to, ” undertake structured and inclusive stakeholder engagement as part of the policy development process to improve acceptance and implementation outcomes, and to integrate the RIA process into their internal policy formulation procedures going forward.”
The statement further added that exceptions to this directive will only be considered in cases of urgent national interest, subject to appropriate approval.
