In a statement released yesterday by Senior Special
Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, President Buhari yesterday ordered the National Planning Commission to go back to the drawing board and produce the framework for the 2016 national budget that will reduce recurrent expenditure and prioritize developmental projects.

Shehu said the President gave the order after
receiving a briefing from the Executive Secretary of
the commission, Dr. Bassey Akpanyung, at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the President told Akpanyung and the
directors of the NPC that capital projects must now
be given priority because Nigeria cannot achieve real development without adequate investment in capital and infrastructural projects.

“In carrying out its role in surveillance of the
economy, review and appraisal of policies, the
commission should devise a plan for a
realignment of the budget so that capital projects
can be really prioritised,” the President directed.

The executive secretary of the NPC had informed the President that Nigeria’s planning system was beset by many challenges. These challenges, he said, included the non-alignment of national plans with the annual budget and inadequate capacity in the departments of planning, research and statistics in the various government ministries.

He said the commission was in the process of
developing a medium term plan.

“Of course, we sought the President’s support for
the articulation and finalisation of that document
because his pronouncement on it will assist us in
rapidly doing so.

“Planning, like I said, will make it effective from
2016 to 2019.

“So, we should be working very seriously to pick
out the elements that will form the document.

“The core areas: security, the areas of
diversification, the area of restabilising the polity,
the micro economic situations that are going to
be addressed.

“Of course, we can’t forget the issues of
unemployment and agric in the real sectors.
These are the areas that will drive and ensure
that the employment situation is improved upon
and that will reduce the poverty level,” he added.

No 'Sauce'?

conservative president unlike some others...

land for sell

no more double dating

Yes, that is one of buhari promise to nigerians. Weldone mr president!