From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has inaugurated the Steering Committee of the National Development Plan 2021-2025, explaining that the aim is to lay a solid foundation for a strong base that will drive an effective implementation and produce a prosperous country.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, the vice president 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 Plan 2021-2025, towards building a prosperous country.”
President Muhammadu Buhari had launched the National Development Plan on December 22, 2021.
Osinbajo said the Steering Committee is required to “provide the necessary policy guidance and leadership for 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.”
Osinbajo noted that the committee is a national assignment with institutional membership and outlives an administration.
“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,” the vice president said.
The Vice President pointed out that going forward, the Federal Government is determined to make a paradigm shift by ensuring 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, with a view to increasing and improving 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,” he said.