The National Assembly in conjunction with Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Budget and National Planning will next month organise a retreat with governors of the 36 states and stakeholders on National Development Plan.
The Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial Zone, who doubles as Chairman Senate Committee on National Planning, Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi, disclosed this in Abuja at the weekend, noting that the retreat would prepare ground for the next National Development Plan aimed at preparing the country for the next long to medium term planning.
Addressing the Accountability Discourse Series 1.0, organised by ActionAid Nigeria, Sen. Adetumbi said the new national development plan is imperative because the previous plans have failed to achieve their targets due to poor consultation, implementation and resources.
“The President has called for a long term national development plan. The past plans have not been the best in consultation, implementation and resources. Oil, which is Nigeria’s primary source of revenue is subject to volatility.
“On December 9 and 10 we will go on a retreat here in Abuja with the Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Nigeria Governors Forum to collectively agree on the framework and modalities for the national development plan.
“To have a colon understanding on what constitutes a development plan for Nigeria and methodology because it must include all the segments, sectors, Federal Government, the 36 States and FCT, the 774 local government areas. It cannot be a handed down vision but a vision co created by all the federating components.
“There is a limit to how much the Federal Government can do, so the Senate has decided to meet with the federal ministers of budget and national planning and finance and special advisers to Mr President. The consultation must be as wide and deep as possible. Kenya just finished one with thorough consultation, we want them to share the method followed with us but our own will be local content.”
Participants at the Accountability Discourse 1.0 however tasked the retreat to deliberate on the next census, as population demography is basis of planning; what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure successful implementation of the plan; how will government ensure grassroots inputs to ensure common man buy-in and participation; how will the development plan prioritise issues that affect the people most?
