...Inaugurates Umahi's completed projects in Ebonyi
By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President of Nigeria, has advocated the need for more synergy among all tiers of government at this critical time in the country to promote national planning and development.
He made this call during a two-day working visit to the Ebonyi State at the 21st Edition of the Joint Planning Board (JPB)/National Council on Development Planning (NCDP), meeting held at the New Exco-Chambers, Centenary City, Abakaliki.
The Vice President considered "the need for synergy among all tiers of government at this critical time,'" very important especially as the society continued "to face the challenges of the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is now compounded by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, already led to price and supply shock, especially in food and security."
He maintained that "we must brace ourselves to collectively respond to the inevitable economic challenge that will occur and some which are already occurring."
He also bemoaned the predominant nature of poverty, even among resourceful countries on corruption, poor governance and institutional capacity.
He noted that a country can have the whole natural resources in every local government area and even a well-educated workforce, and still, fail and social services poorly delivered when it has weak and corrupt institutions.
“The council on development planning has remained a very important platform for setting the tone of national development. It certainly provides an opportunity for federal and state governments to fathom an active collaboration for the well-being of our people.
“The need for synergy among all tiers of government at this critical time, especially as we continue to face the challenges of the onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic, which is now compounded by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which has already led to price and supply shock, especially in food and security. We must brace ourselves to collectively respond to the inevitable economic challenge that will occur and some which are already occurring.
“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the council, federal ministry of finance, budget and national planning, federal and state MDAs and all stakeholders and indeed the private sector and the civil society for the sterling work that has been done in articulating a national development plan 2021-2025.
“The strategic objective of the national development plan includes establishing a strong foundation for a diversified economy, investing in infrastructure, improving governance and stamping out insecurity. All of which would contribute to achieving our national development aspirations.
“I find the extensive deliberations and contributions to fashion a medium-term blueprint, but the implementation of the plan is the crux of the matter and this speaks of the relevance to the theme of the meeting “Good Governance and Institutional Capacity: Pathways to Sustainable National Development.
“The question I am sure some of us asked ourselves is why a country with huge natural and human resources still developed slowly and have a greater number of poverty than other less endowed society or country without resources at all like South Korea and Singapore. Why do they still perform better than the resourceful country of the world?
"I think most of the surveys conducted show that there is a lack of good governance and weak institutional capacity that largely account for the difference.
“How public institutions function is of course an approach determined by institutional capacity. But this is not merely having a merely educated and well-motivated workforce. But a system that can enforce transparency and accountability. You must have a system that can deliver on transparency and accountability”, Osinbajo said.
Earlier, the Governor of the State, Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi, stated that his government had proved vast discretion in financial management since his assumption of office as the state governor.
He maintained that evidence abounds in the massive infrastructure embarked on by his administration in the state.
Meanwhile, the Vice President has proceeded touring the state to inaugurate the already completed projects by Governor Umahi which included the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway, Ishieke-Mile 50 dualized Concrete Road, Mammy-Timber Shade Concrete Road, New Government House Chapel, Okposi-Uburu dualized Concrete Road, St. Joseph Twin Flyover Bridge, Onuofukuru, and Sen. Dr. Sam Egwu Twin Flyover Bridge, Ezzamgbo.
Others are the cross section of the major completed projects in the King David University of Medical Sciences, Aerial View of Government House, Abakaliki, Airport Building for Inspection, Airport Tarmac, New Governor's Lodge, Water Fountain, President Muhammad Buhari Light Tunel, President Muhammad Buhari Light Tunel New View, Christian Ecumenical Centre, Shopping Mall, among others.
