Effective implementation of ERGP will drive social inclusion, achieve SDGs – Ahmed

Zainab Ahmed, ‎Minister of State for Budget and National Planning said at the ongoing 23rd Nigeria Economic Summit (#NES23) that the Ministry will ensure an aggressive implementation of effective of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) to drive social inclusion and achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

Ahmed who spoke on the theme: ‘Deepening the governance capability for ERGP and SDG execution, an All-Government approach’ ‎said the federal government is determined to attract more private capital into the economy through effective implementation of the ERGP.

“The process adopted for the development of the ERGP was highly consultative and participatory. As such, the core strategic objectives outlined in the ERGP map directly onto the 17 SDGs and Targets, with a specific and direct focus on education, health, the environment, women and social inclusion, youth development, agriculture and water resources,” she explained.

Ahmed stated further that additionally, the ERGP stressed the need for investment in our people, through the development of jobs, improvement of human capital and social inclusion.

The ERGP was built on the benefits of past and existing plans in important areas such as the National Industrial Revolution Plan and the Green Alternative Agriculture Promotion Policy.

She said that the ERGP recognised the need to focus on the implementation as a core delivery strategy, adding that “the ministry is working to establish robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to systematically track implementation and measure the effectiveness of projects and programmes.

“The Plan also anticipates that Ministry and Agency Heads will drive delivery of ERGP strategies relevant to their sector goals, and will monitor progress towards these goals as part of their day-to-day management activities.

“Further, states and local governments are expected to drive delivery and ensure Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation, through the development of State-centered economic and recovery and growth plans in line with the ERGP,’’ she said.

To further achieve the ERGP objectives and deliver on key execution priorities, interdisciplinary ‘Sector Laboratories’ are being established, covering three key areas in Agriculture, Energy (Petroleum and Power), and Manufacturing. Four Senior Special Assistants to the President on ERGP Implementation, based in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning have been appointed to drive this process.

According to her: “several other steps are being taken to ensure successful implementation of the ERGP and main streaming of the SDGs. Specifically, the Ministry of Budget and National Planning is currently developing an ERGP Implementation Plan. The process has involved a detailed costing and alignment of the initiatives, projects and programmes of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, to the primary objectives in the Plan such that government spending helps the achievement of target objectives,” she said.

The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017 – 2020 is Nigeria’s home grown 4-year medium term development plan, aimed at driving economic recovery, and ensuring Sustained and Inclusive growth;‎building a globally competitive and diversified Nigerian economy; Investing in the Nigerian people-our biggest asset; and Building strong governance institutions to drive change. The goal is to run an economy with low inflation, stable exchange rates, and diversified and inclusive growth.

With the ERGP, the Minister said the government is well positioned to face the challenge of driving economic recovery as the country emerges from the ravages of corruption; the devastating impact of the global commodities price collapse;‎ and the domino effect of global insecurity.

She further noted that the present administration is working closely with the Private sector would for effective implementation of the ERGP would focus keenly on: the identification of innovative approaches to funding; (Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation and the development of new and innovative frameworks to strengthen institutions and ensure collaboration and ownership across all levels of Government.

Ahmed added that the Ministry has incorporated and ensured policy linkages between the SDGs and the ERGP, adding that specific programmes and projects aimed at achieving the SDGS have been integrated into the 2017 national budget and will be included in future budgeting frameworks‎.

 

HARRISON EDEH, Abuja