By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade yesterday assured residents of state of his administration readiness to key into the Federal Government’s Medium Term National Development Plan, which spans between 2021 and 2025, to boost private sector growth, for job creation for poverty reduction among the people of the state.
Speaking at a two-day South-South Zonal Technical Workshop on the Medium Term National Development Plan 2021-2025 yesterday in Calabar, Ayade reminded the people how among the policy thrust of his administration is good governance and poverty eradication.
Represented by his Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpeyong, Ayade expressed his administration’s willingness to key into the Federal Government’s Medium Term National Development Plan which spans between 2021- 2025 with an aimed to pave way for private sector growth for job creation and poverty reduction.
Promisimg to remain committed to the business of exploring ingenuity whereby available resources of the state are properly harnessed to create industries that will generate revenue for the state, Ayade maintained that part of his administration’s policy thrust is to prioritize issues which are related to health, infrastructure, agriculture, commerce and industry that will be in tandem with the prioritized areas of the MTNDP 2021-2025 of the Federal Government with emphasis on non-oil revenue and diversification of the economy.
Ayade said, “The present administration is committed to exploring every ingenuity to ensure that her resources are effectively harnessed to create revenue generating industries in all parts of the state.”
The governor expressed optimism that the Cross River State Growth and Development Plan will serve as a guide to other states in the region, even as he charged them to brace up to the new challenge of economic diversification for the common good of all as they interact, brainstorm and make contributions as critical stakeholders in the implementation process of the laudable national policy.
Ayade stated that the outcome of the zonal workshop will enable the six states of the South-South geo-political zone to key into the policy, which will ultimately ensure effective implementation.
