Why sustainable development eludes Nigeria – Minister

BY CALEB AYANSINA

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, says sustainable development has been elusive in Nigeria, because the country failed to integrate peoples’ culture into its development plan.

Also, the Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, noted that people are  angry with the local government system, for its inability to perform its constitutional role of driving the process of development at the grassroots.

The duo spoke at the a two-day National Workshop on Culture in the Transformation Agenda organised by NICO in Abuja.

The minister maintained that it was important for those at the helm of affairs of local council system to appreciate their role in the socio-economic and political transformation of the nation, taking cognizance of the fact that “close to 70 percent of the citizens reside in the rural areas”.

Ayakoroma explained that operation of state/local joint account has rendered the local council system to a mere salary paying institution, calling on the National Assembly to correct this at the on-going constitutional amendment.