To restate its readiness to be the most preferred destination and hub of economic activities in Nigeria, a central working committee and technical working group have been inaugurated by the Seyi Makinde-led administration to drive the development plan of Oyo State.
The was superintended over by the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Barr. Adeniyi Farinto, on Monday, when he inaugurated both committees, for the state’s home-grown development plan.
Delivering his speech during the inauguration, which came weeks after the Governor Makinde set up a steering committee to oversee the actualisation of the 20-year holistic plan to develop the pace setters State, Farinto noted, “The State Development Plan (SDP) offers a long-term perspective and affords us an opportunity to rethink our strategy and engage the different sectors of the society in the actualisation of a better state.”
He explained that the plan would in no small measure “improve farmer’s productivity, accelerate infrastructure provision in key areas, improve internally generated revenue, make Oyo State the hub of economic activities and enhance employment and job creation through the provision of productive and sustainable livelihoods for the youths in Oyo State.”
Emphasising that the commencement of the process would begin with broad-based consultations, in order to receive comments and inputs from citizens in all the seven geopolitical zones of the state, the commissioner added, “I make bold to say that the process we begin today will articulate our great potentials into social and economic benefits for all, but particularly for our young people and it is central for the future of our state.”
Speaking earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Mofoluke Adebiyi, stated that the planning process would be inclusive, adding that the operational framework would be premised on three levels, with the Technical Working Group as the engine room, where the technical works shall be executed before escalation to the Central Working Committee, which has oversight functions on each of the technical working group.
She added, “At the top of the levels is the steering committee which has an overall oversight functions on all planning process.”
She emphasized how demanding the preparation of a strategic plan could be, but said much faith was put in the expertise and experience of professionals chosen for the work.
Also speaking at the event, the lead consultant for the project, Prof Olu Ajakaiye, categorized the plan into three different scopes, which he called Long Term Plan 2021-2040, Medium Term Sectoral Strategic Plan, 2021-2025 and Medium-Term Plan – Annual Budget Link
He said that the plans cut across all sectors from health, education, infrastructure, justice and rule of law, youths and sport development, media information to innovative technology, but added however, that without resource mobilization and implementation strategy, all these plans will not be actualized.
