President Muhammadu Buhari has coopted major political parties into the National Steering Committee to oversee the development of the Nigeria Agenda 2050 and Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) to replace Vision 20:2020 and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020.
He said the composition of the committee is to ensure a truly consultative, participatory and inclusive planning process. The Committee will be jointly chaired by Mr Atedo Peterside (representing the private sector) and Dr (Mrs) Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
Other members are representatives of one state governor from each of the six geopolitical zones, the Senate and House of Representatives, ministers and representatives of key agencies. ALGON, captains of industries, Labour Organizations, youth organizations and women’s societies, farmers’ associations, traditional and religious leaders, people with special needs and members of the press are also members.
The President said:”lt has become necessary to develop Successor Plans to the Nigeria Vision 20:2020 and the ERGP, which both lapse in December this year, in order to ensure continuity and efficiency in the country’s development planning.
“The main objectives of these Successor Plans are to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 10 years, particularly given the World Bank’s projection that Nigeria will become the world’s third most populous country by 2050 with over 400 million people.”
On the mandate of the committee, Buhari said it would oversee governance structure comprising the Central Working Group and 26 Technical Working Groups for the important national assignment. ”It is my expectation that the Steering Committee will oversee the execution of key deliverables, including recommending measures to ensure the continuous implementation of the Plans even after the expiration of the tenure of successive Administrations – including legislation, if required.
”Such legislation may introduce much-needed rigour and discipline to the nation’s development planning as well as institutionalise planned outcomes for the future. I trust that our partners in the National Assembly will support us in exploring these reforms, ” he said in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
He urged the National Steering Committee not to lose sight of the important role Nigeria plays on the continent as well as in the global community. He said the successor plans must, therefore, be designed to sustain national development, as well as support regional and global strategic interests, as outlined in the African Union Agenda 2063, the ECOWAS Integration Agenda 2050 and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
