By Udeme Clement

The Minister, National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, has declared that national strategic planning is the key to sustainable growth and economic transformation agenda of  President Goodluck Jonathan.

He made this known while presenting the role of the NPC in effective implementation of the transformation agenda and Vision 20:2020, to the Senate Committee on National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, in Abuja , recently.

Usman explained the goals of the transformation agenda under non-inflationary growth to include improvement of rural infrastructure, promotion of growth in the real sector, encouragement of large scale industries as well as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), revitalisation of ailing industries, encouragement of local content strategy, promoting agriculture and agri-businesses in the country.

According to him, the goals of the transformations agenda under employment generation and poverty alleviation includes expansion of tourism and entertainment industry, harnessing the private sector potentials for employment creation, focusing on investments in construction industry and public works through labour-intensive techniques and provision of safety-nets for the vulnerable groups in the country.

While transformation under value re-orientation includes the need for National Orientation Agency to develop campaigns aimed at fighting corruption, supporting groups and Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) involved in the fight against corruption, including moral instruction and civic education in schools curricula and ensuring compliance by all citizens with the rules and regulations.

His words: “The vision of NPC is to be most efficient planning institution that guides the growth and development of Nigeria ’s economy. Our mission is to proactively determine and efficiently advise on matters relating to national development and overall management of the economy for positive growth. The Commission is putting measures in place to ensure that plans and policies are properly implemented by all relevant stakeholders.

“To determine and advise on polices that will best promote national integration to sustain the economy, focus on key national development issues and ensures social justice and human welfare at all levels of the Nigerian society.

“Others include the mission to determine how best the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy contained in the constitution can achieve major objectives of optimal development, to serve as a focal point for the coordination and formulation of national polices and programmes, to draw up from time to time, national economic priorities and map out implementation strategies and to enhance efficiency of public sector spending and general national economic management.”