Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is laying a solid foundation for lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next decade through the Medium-Term National Development Plans (MTNDPs 2021-2025 and 2026-2030) and the long-term perspective plan, otherwise known as Agenda 2050.
Agba said that the MTNDPs were anchored on President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty while the perspective long-term plan would help to consolidate on the exit
strategy and the plan to build economic prosperity for the nation and
its citizenry.
He spoke when the House of Representatives Committee on
National Planning and Economic Development led by its Chairman, Hon. Olododo Abdulganiyu Saka, visited the ministry in pursuance of its
oversight function.
According to Agba, “The planning process will involve participation from
sub-nationals (State and Local Governments), major political parties,
National Assembly, youth and women organizations and other relevant
stakeholders.”
He said that the long-term plan would be developed by the Steering
Committee chaired by investment banker and economist, Mr Atedo
Peterside, and would be co-chaired by the Minister of Finance, Budget,
and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Samshuna Ahmed, who would interface
between the Steering Committee and the Government.
He explained that the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and the Central
Working Group (CWG) under the coordination of Special Adviser to the
President on Finance and Economy, Dr Sarah Alade, had already been
inaugurated, pointing out that a presidential approval for an
inauguration date for the Steering Committee was being awaited.
The minister stated that President Buhari had approved the commencement
of the institutional process of emplacing a successor plan to the
Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP 2017-2020), which would come to
an end in December this year.
He said that the primary responsibility of the ministry was to evolve
strategies to develop the national development plan for the country,
flowing from the priorities in the plan and on the basis of the plan,
draw up budget proposals, which would be forwarded to the National
Assembly for consideration and passage, and consequently for the
President’s assent.
According to him, the President is committed to having a truly national
development plan, which is why he has approved that the plan should be
private sector-driven while the government would be an enabler.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on National Planning and
Economic Development, Hon. Abdulganiyu Saka said the House was a partner
in progress with the ministry, adding that the oversight visit was to
appraise the activities of the Ministry and find ways of possible
collaboration in order to move the sector forward.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs.
Olusola Idowu, expressed her gratitude to the committee for their
willingness to collaborate with the ministry for the sector to achieve
its objectives.
She said that the Ministry would continue to reciprocate the gesture by
doubling its efforts in the formulation and coordination of the
implementation of plans, programmes, and projects to achieve development objectives.
