NDP to generate 21m jobs, lift 35m people out of poverty by 2025 —Buhari
By Matthew Denis Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the National Development (NDP) will create 21million jobs and lift 35million people out of poverty by 2025.
The President made the disclosure during the 27th Annual Conference of the Association of National Accountants held in Abuja recently.
The President who was represented by the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba said, “The National Development Plan 2021-2025 has strategies to create the needed enabling environment for sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria.
“The Plan seeks to invest massively in infrastructure, ensure macroeconomic stability, enhance the investment environment and improve on the social indicators and living conditions of the people.
“Specifically, the Plan aims to generate 21 million full-time jobs and lift 35 million people out of poverty by 2025; thus, setting the stage for achieving the government’s commitment of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
According to him the Plan will also address binding domestic growth constraints, improve plan implementation majorly affected by political and policy changes, strengthen links between the plan and the annual budgets, improve inter-sectoral collaboration, ensure harmonised efforts with states and create the enabling environment for increased private sector investment.
“Other new features of the plan are; a mechanism to engage, empower and employ our teaming energetic youths, financing the Plan to increase revenue to 15 percent of GDP by 2025 and to decrease budget deficit.
“Designation of sports as a business Integrated rural development and subnational governments cooperation and collaboration; and strong implementation framework and a strengthened national monitoring and evaluation system.
The President stressed that the Plan will equally ensure concentric economic diversification, stimulate the manufacturing sector’s ability to increase the value chain and create jobs, increase product complexity and competitiveness, encourage massive investment in infrastructure and human capital development and adopt a pragmatic approach to fiscal management.
He noted that the country can achieve these laudable goals by leveraging on different sectors to unleash Nigeria’s potential for industrialization and sustainable economic growth and development.
“The synergy from all tiers of government and the private sector is required to achieve the laudable aspirations of the Plan.”
The President while applauding the accountants for the conference emphasised that accountancy profession must be at the forefront of the efforts to promote probity and accountability in public policy conceptualizations, formulation, and implementation.
“ I urge members of this association to support government reforms and initiatives aimed at bolstering transparency and accountability in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public policies and projects.”
“Access to quality financial and economic information is an imperative while the ability of citizens to challenge and question irresponsible behaviour must be strengthened.
