to reduce leakages and increase the country’s revenue base through the Petroleum Industry Bill and the new Personal Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2011. Etc. Also, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have intensified efforts at combating economic and financial crimes thus sanitizing the country’s business environment. SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The Socio-Economic Development thematic area focuses on visible elements of government policies, impacting directly on the lives of citizens. Recent Reports by the UNDP and the MDGs already show marginal improvements in life expectancy, maternal, health and girl-child education, as well as reduction of incidences of HIV/AIDS and child mortality. The Vision 20:2020 which is a long term economic transformation blue print, articulates Nigeria’s economic growth and development strategies. The Vision is designed to place Nigeria among the world’s leading 20 most industrialized nations by the year 2020 by optimizing the utilization of human and natural resources to achieve rapid economic growth and equitable social development. Concerted efforts are being made by all levels of government at reducing poverty and improving access and quality of education for the citizenry. In the area of gender equality, women participation in governance has improved considerably both in the executive and legislative arms in a determined effort to fulfill the protocol on Affirmative Action. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES 5