Zero budgeting: FG unveils policy thrusts, priority programmes

Preparatory to the zerobased budgeting to be adopted in 2016, the Federal Government has unveiled its draft policy thrust, priority programmes, targets and key performance indicators.

A copy of the preparation of the 2016 budget and medium term plan of the federal government from 2016 to 2020 released by the National Planning Commission in Abuja showed that economic, social development, infrastructure, governance, environment and state and regional development are the six main pillars of the policy thrusts.

The priority programmes of the federal government in the economic sector include sustainable reform in oil and gas, real sector development, strengthening national planning and statistics, reforming agriculture sector, tourism and creative industries development and public financial management.

In infrastructure development, federal government targets electricity generation, transmission and distribution; gas supply pipeline network; road rehabilitation and construction programme; rail network expansion and modernisation.

Speaking at the stakeholders validation session on the identified priority programmes aligned to the policy thrusts of the 2016 to 2020 medium term successor strategic plan held yesterday in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Bassey Akpanyung, said a comprehensive project criteria would be adopted in admitting projects into the plan.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director of Macro economics, Tunde Lawal, said the plan is consistent with the zero-based budgeting to be adopted.

“The principles that will would guide project selection include among others, impact on employment and welfare, interlink ages with other sectors and projects, alignment with post 2015 Agenda/ SDGs, potential for significant economic impact, and potential to attract private sector and donor funding,” he said.