NES#26: Summit will assist government develop 2021-2025 Medium Term Plan – FG

Federal Government yesterday said the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#26) was timely as the outcome of the summit would enable government develop a Medium Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) for 2021-2025.

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, disclosed this yesterday at the NES#26 held at the main auditorium of the Ministry in Abuja.

Ahmed also noted that the summit would assist government develop its longer term plan, known as the Nigerian Agenda 2050, explaining that the plans were to address developmental challenges in all aspects of the country, and would be driven by both private sector and government

The minister said the MTNDP 2021- 2025 was expected to be formally launched in December 2020, while the Nigerian Agenda 2050 would be finalised in July 2021.

According to Ahmed, “This is timely as the government is currently developing a Medium-term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2021-2025 and the Nigeria Agenda 2050. There are 26 Technical Working Groups, Central Working Group and the Steering Committee committed to the process.

“The process is consultative, participatory and inclusive involving all the segments of the society and covering all the sectors of the economy. The plans are to address developmental challenges in all aspects of the country’s national life and will be driven by the Organised Private Sector while the government creates the enabling environment to facilitate growth and development and aligned to the continental Agenda (AU Agenda 2063) and Global Agenda (Sustainable Development Goals - SDGS), 2030.

“The MTNDP 2021-2025 is expected to be formally launched in December 2020, while the Nigerian Agenda 2050 would be finalised in July 2021.

“The Summit will be an opportunity to mobilise all Nigerians to take responsibility and catalyse a future in which sub-national economies will drive Nigeria’s sustainable economic growth, development, and competitiveness in partnership with the private sector.

“It is expected that the outcome of the Summit will articulate clear and decisive actions aimed at building partnerships for resilience that will put Nigeria in a strong and competitive position among comity of nations.”

She pointed out that this year’s summit was particularly unique for the country as all stakeholders would be required to take ownership of the social and economic future of Nigeria at a time of crisis, and create a more prosperous nation for all citizens.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Asue Ighodalo, chairman, NESG, said the summit presented an opportunity for the country to continue to collaborate and build partnerships that would provide the platform for candid discussions and engagements essential for the advancement of Nigeria’s economy.

Ighodalo stressed that the summit would also usher the country into the decade of action towards meeting the SDGS by 2030, pointing out that part of NES#26 focus would be to position subnationals, states and local governments as frontiers of national economic development and growth.