FG, JAPAN SIGN N600 MILLION GRANT TO SUPPORT PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED IN NIGERIA 

Nigeria and the Japanese government have signed a grant agreement worth 350, 000, 000 Japanese Yen, equivalent of N600 million Naira or USD 3.7million to support the physically challenged Nigerians.

The support, which will be implemented through the Ministry of Women Affairs, is for the procurement of Wheelchairs and Walking Support Wheels for the people with physical disabilities in Nigeria.

Honourable Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, has urged the Federal MDAs to provide the Department of Planning Research and Statistics (DPRS) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) in their agencies with enough resources to enable them perform their duties effectively in the new regime of performance contract system introduced by the Jonathan Administration

The Minister, stated this, Monday, 28th January, 2013 in Abuja in a keynote address at the opening of a Sensitisation Workshop on Guidelines for Performance Contract Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting organised for the MDAs by his Commission

Nigeria has urged the Conference of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), to urgently address the issue of the worsening security situation in many member states as a means of creating the conducive environment for poverty alleviation, and achieving sustainable development.

NES #18: Good Governance, Infrastructure and Human Capital Development, Focal Areas of Transformation Agenda - Dr Shamsuddeen

DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED INFRASTRUCTURE MASTER PLAN (NIIMP) 2014 – 2043

NIIMP is in line with global trends in infrastructure development. Countries that have adopted NIIMP include Malaysia, India, Singapore and China. Apart from generally supporting the growth of the national economy, the adoption of NIIMP in those countries has been accompanied by a remarkable private sector inflow of investment for infrastructure development. The NIIMP also enhances competitiveness of the countries, and as part of expected benefits, a prioritized projects and programmes whose implementation will address the current deficit in infrastructure in the country would emerge from the Plan.

The Commission in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has developed a Framework for the NIIMP. It is currently consulting with the key stakeholders in the infrastructure sector with a view to harvesting ideas to enrich the framework. Thereafter, working groups on various thematic areas of infrastructure will be inaugurated and will commence activities. The preparation of the NIIMP is to be finalized by April, 2013.

This process is being coordinated by the National Planning Commission under the leadership of Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, CON, the Honourable Minister of National Planning.

The Commission will appreciate suggestions on the development process for the NIIMP. Please forward your comments to:

Honourable Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, CON, has said that all donor assistance to Nigeria must be in line with the priority need of the country.

The Minister said this, Tuesday, September 25th, 2012 during an official signing ceremony of USAID Assistance Agreement on behalf of the government of Nigeria with the US Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Terence McCully .

The programme, is under the Strategic Objectives Agreement by the National Planning Commission on behalf of the government of Nigeria and USAID on behalf of the United States of America.  

The grant agreement which is an additional USD318 million ($318,612,663), is on five programmes namely; the strengthening of civil engagement for good governance, increasing rural incomes and jobs in assisted areas and improving quality and efficiency of basic education.  

Other areas of the assisted programme include; increasing use of high-impact health interventions and increasing Nigerian capacity for a sustainable HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis response.  

According to Dr. Usman, the role of Nigeria in defining the strategic areas in which donor assistance are directed cannot be over emphasised, reiterating however, the need for regular review meetings with donor agencies to help in the coordination of the assistance and avoid replication of projects.  

Earlier in his remark, the United State Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence P. McCulley, said that the USA, through USAID is committed to helping Nigeria achieve its development objectives, pointing out that, Nigeria remains one of the most strategic African partners with the United States and a prominent economic force within West Africa.  

According to McCully , Nigeria is not bugged down by its inadequate infrastructure and lack of incentives and policies that promote private sector development which has threatened its progress, but has the potential to develop more fully its leadership role among nations both in West Africa and globally with the newly drafted official development assistance policy.  

The Envoy further said that, USAID has also shifted its focus to state and local governments to improve capacity in planning, management and leadership of programmes that address HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, family planning, reproductive health and malaria.

Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman,CON has called for participation of the local communities in Nigeria to support government in its efforts to improve the lots of Nigerians.

Dr. Usman, made the call, Thursday, October 18th, 2012, while interacting in Hausa language with the Bonu ward community in Gurara local government area of Niger State, during the on going Good Governance Tour, which his Commission, in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information is embarking.

At an inspection visit of a Dispensary constructed for the Bonu ward community, the Minister, told the people to assist the government in ensuring proper care and maintenance of the building which the government has provided for the primary health care needs of women and children's in the community.

" Government alone can not satisfy everybody's developmental needs, hence the support and participation of the local communities would help a great deal in ensuring that the people live a better live" he said in Hausa.

Earlier, Dr. Shamsuddeen had commended the efforts of Niger State government in the area of health care initiative when the tour team visited the Umaru Musa Yar'Adua General Hospital in Sabon-Wuse.

He described the strategic siting of the hospital along the Abuja - Kaduna express way as a wise decision by the Niger state government considering the high vehicular movement on the express way which connects the North and Eastern part of Nigeria.

The National Planning Minister and his counterpart of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, are currently leading the team in the tour of Niger State, North Central Nigeria.

Honourable Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, CON has today, Thursday September 6^th, 2012 signed performance contract with the Secretary to the Commission and Chief Executives Officers of the Commission’s three parastatals in his office.

The three parastatals under the Commission are; Center for Management Development (CMD), National Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER) and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)

The signing was in compliance with the policy directive of the present administration which saw President Jonathan signed performance contract with members of his Executive Council, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on August, 22^nd, 2012.

Chief Executives of the Commission’s parastatals that signed the contract with the Honourable Minister of Planning are; Dr. Kabir Kabo Usman of the CMD, Professor Olufemi Taiwo of NISER and Dr. Yemi Kale of NBS.

At the signing event, the Minister, National Planning said that, the performance contract, was a new drive initiated by President Jonathan to measure performance of public office holders which is aimed at effective budget implementation and service delivery to Nigerians.

The Minister warned staff of the Commission that, it is not going to be business as usual and every staff must live up to expectation for the commission to meet up with its part of the contract as designed.

Responding, the Secretary to Commission, Ntufam Fidel Ugbo, ESQ, who also supervised the Directors of the commission’s signing of the contract said that, they would work closely with the Honourable Minister to ensure that, the commission achieved its targets and by extension assist Mr. President to deliver on his mandate with Nigerians

NV20:2020: NIGERIA MAKING TREMENDEOUS PROGRESS, NOW 39TH WORLD’S LARGEST ECONOMY – Dr. Usman

Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, CON, has revealed that, Nigeria is now number 39^thin terms of GDP ranking among the global best economies, and that tremendous successes concerning realising its ambition of becoming among the top world’s economies by the year 2020 has been achieved.

‘’ We are making progress.  In terms of GDP now we are 39^th in the world from 44^th. In the informal sector a lot of activities are going on there. We hope to even make more progress after rebasing our GDP’’ He said

The Minister made this known, Monday, September 3, 2012 in Abuja, during the Inauguration of the Central Working Group (CWG) on the Review of the First National Implementation Plan, NIP (2010-2013) of the NV20:2020.

‘’What gets measured gets done. What is important is for Nigeria is to make progress. We do not want to wait till 2013 to find out whether or not we are making progress. Better we tackle it earlier and correct what is wrong.’’ He stated.

Dr Usman, further said, the review of the first NIP is necessary due to the dynamic nature of the world economy, developments in the global economy, developments in the domestic economy and also to assess progress in implementation, against set, milestones and targets in the plan.

He also mentioned that, the Review of the 1^st NIP is done to take account of developments in Macroeconomic framework, policy initiatives and strategies, sectoral governments projects and programmes as well as private sector investment flows to the country.

The review, will accordingly also include in-depth analysis of all aspects of Nigeria’s basic development objectives and priorities, sect oral and global dimensions; and key gaps challenges and also provide critical inputs for the development of 2^nd NIP, 2014- 2017.

The Minister also mentioned that, a robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework has been put in place at the federal level which is expected to be cascaded down to the States in order to provide effective monitoring and track down performances . He hailed Delta State and Cross River State for their effort concerning M&E works they are doing in the state.

While charging the members of the committee to make sacrifices in discharging their duties which he described enormous, the Minister was quick to add that, the confidence reposed in the members of the committee, was because of their pedigree and accomplishment.

Chairman of the review committee, Mr. M.A. Akpobasah, a former Permanent Secretary of the Commission, who spoke on behalf of his Committee members, commended the Minister for his innovative approach towards planning in Nigeria and also described the recent Contract signing agreement between Mr President and Ministers which the NPC initiated as one of the best approach to development planning in Nigeria.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: FG COMMITTED TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH STAKEHOLDERS – Dr. Shamsuddeen

Honourable Minister/ Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, CON, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to work closely with various stakeholders of the Nigerian economy to achieve sustainable economic development.

‘’ We all, therefore, need to work together to achieve the common goal of developing this great country. Experience elsewhere has shown that cooperation is a better strategy for fast- tracking the achievement of common goals. Let us, therefore, march forward in unity’’, he stated.

The Minister disclosed this, Tuesday, August 28, 2012  in Abuja during the 53rd Annual Conference of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) Session being held at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

The theme of this year's  NES conference is "Youth Employment Generation and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria’’

Dr. Usman, also pointed out that, the theme of the Conference is very important to him, as the Minister of the National Planning Commission, as the discussions during the conference will border on a key mandate of the National Planning Commission, which is, among others, to advise Government on matters relating to national development and the overall management of the economy.

He further said that, Employment Generation, especially among the Youths’ is one of the cardinal goals of the Government’s Transformation Agenda, and added that, was in recognition that, the youths remain the greatest asset in the growth and development of any nation, including Nigeria.

The Planning Minister, revealed also that, the Federal Government is working closely with the State Governments to provide the conducive, enabling environment for addressing the youths’ challenge, through a number of broad, as well as various sub-themes.

He then hailed the Nigerian Economic Society for its 53rd years of effective contribution to national development, stressing that the deliberations, research papers on the Nigerian economy, as well as the Communiqué’s arising from the past Conferences of the NES, clearly have helped in strengthening economic management in Nigeria, as well as NPC collaborating with the Society in its efforts to develop the country, including the development of a robust macroeconomic framework, which was used for the development of the Nigeria Vision 20:2020, the 1st National Implementation Plan of the Vision and the current Transformation Agenda (2011-2015) of the present adminstration.

The inclusion of States' Gross Domestic Product (SGDP), in the national data framework will enhance its comprehensiveness and reliability, spur growth and development, promote accountability as well as create awareness of the outcomes of efforts at the sub-national levels.