FG Committed
to
FG Committed
to Inclusive National Development Plans – Minister
The Federal Government
has restated its commitment to producing truly Nigerian National
Development plans that will deepen citizens’ engagement,
participation and ownership.
This was reaffirmed at
the inaugural meeting of the National Steering Committee (NSC) for
the preparation of the Medium-Term National Development Plans
(MTNDP) 2021-2025 & 2026-2030 and Agenda 2050, in Abuja.
The National Steering
Committee is co-chaired by the Minister of Finance, Budget and
National Planning Dr (Mrs) Zainab Ahmed, representing the public
sector; and, Mr Atedo Peterside, representing the private
sector.
The Committee has the
mandate to oversee the governance structure comprising the Central
Working Group (CWG) and other 26 Technical Working Groups (TWGs) as
well as supervising the execution of key deliverables, including
recommending measures that would ensure the continuous
implementation of the plans beyond tenures of successive
governments.
In her remarks, Mrs.
Ahmed said Nigeria was witnessing the beginning of genuine effort
by government to chart a new cause for another Nigerian National
Development Plan that would better the lives of its
citizens.
“We must therefore,
give hope to great citizens of this country with the quality of
plans we’re coming up with,” she stressed.
Briefing the Committee
earlier, on steps taken so far on the development of the new plan,
the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem
Ikanade Agba, said significant progress had been made.
“We have inaugurated a
key Technical Working Group (Macroeconomic Framework and Growth
Group) which will provide guidance to the work of the other 25
Technical Working Groups,” he said.
He reassured Nigerians
that “We are committed to producing truly Nigerian National
Development plans and, at the moment, we are in the process of
engaging the grassroots through States and Local Governments in the
planning process, which will take place through town hall meetings,
where memoranda from Town development Associations and
Traditional Rulers will be received.’’
Also speaking, the
co-chair, Mr Atedo Peterside, urged Nigerians not to lose faith in
government’s efforts to produce National Development Plans as this
might be the last straw that would “break the camel’s back”
to place Nigeria among the top twenty economies of the world