Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has inaugurated the Steering Committee of the National Development Plan, NDP, 2021 – 2025.
He said the “aim is to lay a solid foundation that will drive effective implementation of the programme.”
President Muhammadu Buhari launched the National Development Plan on the 22nd of December, 2021.
Professor Osinbajo said the “overall aim of establishing the National Steering Committee, NSC, and the Development Plan Implementation Unit, DPIU, is to lay the foundation for a strong institutional base, structures and systems that would drive and ensure efficient and effective implementation of the targets in the National Development towards building a prosperous country.”
The Steering Committee is required to provide the necessary policy guidance and leadership for the effective and successful implementation of the Plan.
“It is a testament to the determination and commitment of the government to provide the desired political will and leadership for effective implementation of the new national development plan,” the VP said.
According to him, the Committee is a national assignment with institutional membership and outlives an administration.
He said; “Indeed, this particular National Steering Committee will in a few months hand over to a new administration. This calls for dedication and hard work to lay a solid foundation in the relatively short time left.
“Going forward, the Nigerian Government is determined to make a paradigm shift by ensuring that agencies and institutions make necessary commitments and account for the level of implementation of programmes and projects within their respective sectors, especially those that were admitted into the National Development Plan, to increase and improve infrastructure stock in Nigeria.
“We may also recall that a pillar of this government’s commitments is to reduce poverty by moving 100 million people out of poverty to the path of prosperity in 10 years, by the end of 2030. In this regard, NDP 2021 – 2025 was designed to lift 35 million people out of poverty and generate 21 million jobs by the end of 2025,” VP Osinbajo explained.
He said the objectives of the committee include ensuring efficient management of the implementation process of the Plan; reducing bureaucratic processes in the governance process; and gradually professionalising planning functions for capacity sustainability.
The committee would also work to begin the process of institutionalisation of the Plan implementation within the Ministry and other MDAs; to facilitate manpower development and adequate utilisation in the public service to drive the implementation of the Plan; as well as to exercise cooperation and coordination towards effective implementation of national development plans by all MDAs.
The 19-member committee has the Vice President as the Chairman while the Permanent Secretary, Budget and National Planning, would serve as the secretary.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
