Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said that planning played a crucial role in the economic well-being of nations.
Speaking at the just concluded 22nd Edition of the Joint Planning Board (JPB) National Council on Development Planning Meetings, in Osogbo, Osun State, the Minister named Ethiopia, India, Korea and other Asian countries that had achieved success through planning.
According to him, such countries demonstrated that careful planning could deliver prosperity, with a growth rate of about 80% for over a decade.
Bagudu noted that given that Nigeria was a federation with provisions requiring federal, state, and local governments to lead through planning, stressing the constitutional provision for a joint planning board between the state and local governments.
He highlighted the importance of reflecting on the interface between commissioners of the states and heads of state’s economic planning administration and that of the national level to create a meaningful communique for the National Economic Council.
The theme of the conference was “Imperatives for Restoring Nigeria on the Path of Sustainable Economic Growth and Development”.
Most economic issues relate to planning, which is why there was a resolution that commissioners of budget and planning should accompany governors to the monthly National Economic Council meeting.
This would provide opportunities for joint planning board meetings or interactions with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.
He emphasized unity, stating that diversity was not a distraction but a potential benefit.
He encouraged cooperation and recognition of common goals, likening the mindset to the creation of trade unions worldwide.
The Minister encouraged the commissioners, saying, “In my humble view, we are the most important link in our federal setting. We are the ones with constitutional responsibilities for planning in the states and coordinating such planning with the federal government.”
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Nebolisa Anako, while briefing the Minister, had disclosed that about 30 commissioners or state representatives of Budget and Economic Planning were in Osogbo for the meeting.
According to him, the attendance demonstrated the importance of joint planning and the National Council on Development.
He emphasized that following Prince Agba’s comprehensive treatise on National Development Planning, one of the most crucial issues of interest, especially for new commissioners, was the significance of these institutions in promoting the importance of economic and planning ministries.
“In some states, they are often not given the coordinating importance they ought to have. By design, planning involves the ability to contextualize and imagine where resources are, and intellectual materials can be mobilized. Without planning, effectiveness cannot be achieved,” he said.
He added, “I would like someone to talk and expand on JPB/NCDP so that colleagues from the states can be better enriched.”
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