The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to suspend the introduction of new policies and regulations pending full compliance with the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) Framework.
The directive was announced on Tuesday by the Director of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Audu, as part of ongoing efforts to improve regulatory quality and strengthen Nigeria’s business climate.
According to Audu, the decision is aimed at ensuring consistency in policymaking, reducing uncertainty, and enhancing the ease of doing business across the country.
“All MDAs are hereby instructed to pause the rollout of any new policies, regulations, or major changes until full alignment with the Regulatory Impact Analysis Framework is achieved,” she stated.
She explained that the RIA Framework, which was formally implemented in January 2025, requires all new policies or amendments to undergo a structured review process to ensure they are evidence-based and properly evaluated before implementation.
The government noted that the framework has already been distributed to MDAs through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and is also accessible via the PEBEC website.
Audu emphasized that the policy suspension is necessary to prevent sudden regulatory changes that could negatively affect businesses, investors, and the general public. She added that it would also help eliminate inconsistencies and frequent policy reversals, often referred to as “policy flip-flops.”
The directive further mandates MDAs to adopt a more transparent and inclusive approach to policymaking by engaging relevant stakeholders before introducing new regulations.
Going forward, all government agencies are required to integrate the RIA process into their internal policy development systems and ensure that any proposed changes are backed by verifiable data and receive appropriate approvals.
However, exceptions may be granted in cases of urgent national importance, subject to necessary authorisation.
The government reiterated that the cooperation of all MDAs is critical to building a stable, predictable, and investor-friendly regulatory environment capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.
