NCDP: JOINT PLANNING BOARD AND NATIOAL COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENT PLANNING MEETING IN……………
By:Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Federal Government has enjoyed states of the Federation to give priority to the Agricultural value-chain and pay more attention to the Food Systems transformation Pathways in their policy designs and implementation.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Nebeolisa Anako gave the admonition in his opening remark at the 22nd Edition of the Joint Planning Board JPB and National Council on Development Planning (NCDP) Meetings held at the Center for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo, Osun State.
Mr Anako emphasized that such deliberate policy direction would ensure improved bio-economy and improved Nutrition as panaceas to reducing unemployment, and stunted growth, particularly in the Rural and Under-Served Areas of the nation, in line with the declaration of State of emergency in the sector, by this Administration
The Permanent Secretary who pointed out that the challenges occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the Naira were temporary appealed to government officials to sensitize the Nigerian public on the long-term benefits of the policies.
“The recent approval of Five Billion Naira (A5 billion), and some consignment of food stuff to each State of the Federation were immediate measures taken to mitigate the hardship caused as a result of these reforms. It is hoped that as other medium-term measures are unfolding, Nigerians would appreciate the rationale behind these important decisions so far taken.”
He called for the strengthening of the collaboration and synergy between the Federal, the States and Local Governments towards effective implementation of all the resolutions/decisions of the Joint Planning Board/National Council on Development Planning (JPB/NCDP) as a way to fastrack national developmental objectives.
Declaring the meeting opened, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke who was represented by his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi argued that the problem with Nigeria Economy was not that of policy inadequacy, but the lack of will and sincerity to implement such policies.
Senator Adeleke noted that ” even when there is willingness to address them, the dichotomy between plan formulation and implementation has been a major challenge to National growth. This dichotomy is not insurmountable with current joint and coordinated fronts of government machinery across the board ”
Earlier in a goodwill message, the Ondo State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasun commended the courage demonstrated by President Bola Tinubu over the removal of Petrol subsidy, stressing that Nigerians must be ready to make the necessary sacrifice for the nation’s economic freedom.
Pastor Igbasun said ideas from the meeting would provide policy options to help confront underdevelopment in the country so that the renewed hope agenda of the present administration could be transformed into prosperity through robost implementable recommendations .
Similarly, the Director General of the National Institute for Social and Economic Research, NISER, Professor Antonia Simbine noted that to move from annual rhetorics of such meetings, there was need to put in place Institution for implementation and evaluation of the process of growth and development, where the sub national governments must be incorporated as key stakeholders.
The theme of the 22nd edition of the Joint Planning Board amd National Economic Council on Development Planning is tagged ” Imperatives for restoring Nigeria on the part of sustainable economic growth and development.
Prof. Micheal Ikupolati and Prof. Frank Nwoye delivered the lead papers on Energy Sufficiency Sustainable Economic Development and Alternative Energy Revolution for Industrialisation and Economic Prosperity .
The 21st edition of the meeting was held in Abakaliki in Ebony state in April 2022 before Osun accepted to host the next edition following the inability of Ekiti and Ondo States to host the meeting.