Minister of National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, yesterday reiterated the Federal Government's commitment to tackling unemployment, poverty and income inequality.
Usman, who spoke at the 2013 Conference of Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS) in the Public Service held in Ibadan, said the problems had constituted a serious concern President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.
He said: "The current administration is fully committed to the sustained formulation and implementation of strategic plans and the various plans are already undergoing major reviews to meet the dire needs of the populace, especially the teeming unemployed youth."
Usman specifically listed the plans undergoing to include the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, Aviation Sector Roadmap, Gas Master Plan, Housing Sector Roadmap, Power Sector Roadmap, Solid Minerals Roadmap, the Education Sector Plan and National Health Sector Plan.
The minister urged the 36 state governments to collaborate with the Federal Government in this direction by developing regional medium-term strategic plans in line with the Transformation Agenda and Nigeria's Vision 20: 20:20.
He said: "In its effort towards institutionalising strategic planning in Nigeria, the National Planning Commission (NPC) has encouraged the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and governments at the sub-national to develop their own strategic plans.
"NPC is equally working closely with the States in cascading the performance management system to the sub-national level. In this regard, the National Planning Commission conducted the first training session on M&E for officials of the Oyo State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget in 2013. Oyo State is also one of the pilot states that the Commission has identified to provide technical support and guidance for the development of Nigeria's successor medium term strategic plans."
