The Kogi State government has assured that stakeholders will form part of the preparation of the 2021- 2025 Medium-Term National Development Plan
The State Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Hon. Asiwaju Idris made this known today, at the 2-day Zonal Technical Workshop for the Medium-Term National Development plan in lokoja.
Hon. Idris, in his address, welcomed representatives from the geo-political zone to the all-important technical session of the Medium Term National Development Plan
The commissioner who said the program is aimed at composing the state’s contribution to the national development plan noted, that a lot of work has been done in the development of the draft plan.
He said the draft plan would not have been perfect if the state has not reviewed and made inputs into it.
The commissioner also said the meeting will provide a unique opportunity to interrogate the draft plan which will assist in modifying and removing any area of the draft.
Also, he said it will give the state the liberty to introduce new ideas or strategies that are not included in the draft plan to improve the quality of the plan.
He disclosed that the state has also commenced the process of preparing a ten-year development plan which its institutional framework has already been established, such as the steering and technical committee that will drive the preparation plan.
While commending His Excellency Alh Yahaya Bello for his exemplary leadership, Hon. Idris said that Nigerians are looking forward to having him serve at the National level.
Speaking further, Hon. Idris said our biggest assets as a nation are our diversity, and advised that we must manage it in a manner that will work for the greater number of Nigerians. To this end, His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello understands the people and appreciates our diversity hence his desire to make the country great again.
He used the opportunity to call on participants to invest their time in this critical assignment to enable them to achieve an independent objective
Also speaking at the program, the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones in his contribution thanked the organisers of the programme for providing them with the opportunity to have their inputs in the developmental plan.
Describing the opportunity as a golden one, the commissioner said over the years, it has been difficult to achieve developmental plans because needs were based on assumptions
He said he is happy with the very ambitious target the state is driven at reducing the numbers of out of school children
Hon. Wemi Jones who noted that seventeen states in Nigeria have a very alarming rate of out of school children added that out of the seventeen states, fourteen are from the northern Nigeria which he described as worrisome
He however called on people from the north-central to as a matter of principle, ensure that all hands must be on deck and their minds remains focused on the exercise.
He said this is one of the surest ways to achieve a common goal in reducing the number of the out of school children.
The commissioner said if this can be achieved, the issues of insecurity will become a thing of the past.
In his goodwill message, Federal Reform Manager, FCDO- PERL, Umaru Abu said he is delighted to deliver a goodwill message at the event.
He said it is also good to know that we are witnessing the deepening of good governance in Nigeria through a broad-based social consensus about values and actions towards a defined and shared future
He stated that the technical workshop which provided states and local governments with an enabling environment to put their inhabitant’s priorities and needs at the center of national policies and strategies to promote development is but a step in the right direction.
He used the opportunity to call on state governments to generate the necessary support for sustained political commitment, coordinate mechanisms to coordinate progress and invest in an effective system for monitoring and analysis, with transparent reporting on results.
He commended the state government for making their voice count and for
accepting to host the regional workshop within rather a short notice.
The Director, Macroeconomics analysis, Federal Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning, Dave Adeosun, who was represented by. Mr. Tony Monye, assured participants of the ministry’s readiness to work together in growing the Nigerian economy for sustainable development using the instrumentality of the national development plan.
In his vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mallam Jimoh Mohammed said he was grateful to God for making the program a reality and also to be part of the national assignment that has positive impact on the lives of the people, noting that it’s a great privilege to be part of the process
He thanked his Excellency, Alh Yahaya Bello for always giving support to all programs, policies, and projects that impact positively on the lives of Kogites.
He also used the opportunity to thank the Minister of Finance and her team for allowing the state to host the north-central zonal meeting as well as the foreign partners who made the programme successful.
Princess Sumanu Funsho
Public Relations Officer