Abubakar Sulaiman takes charge as National Planning Minister, promises to consolidate on achievements.

ABUJA (National Planning Commission Report)

The new Minister/Deputy Chairman of National Planning Commission, Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman (Dr) has formally assumed office with a promise to work with members of staff of the Commission to consolidate on the successes so far recorded by his predecessor.

Abubakar Sulaiman made the promise on Wednesday July 30, 2014 during the formal handing and taking over ceremony with the out-going Supervising Minister of National Planning, Bashir Yuguda. He promised to bring in his wealth of academic experience to the National Planning Commission towards addressing the challenges facing the country.

“We have a lot of problems and challenges facing this county and we need to bring out our best to consolidate on the gains left behind by my predecessors and I will need your support to achieve this,” he said.

On the Nigerian Economic Blueprint (NV20:2020), the new Minister noted that the only ingredient needed in order to the NV20:2020 is in forming a synergy between the NPC and the academia. He intensified that the need to integrate with the academia; saying it is the only new strategy towards achieving the NV20:2020. The Minister also pledged his commitment to work with the staff of the Commission towards ensuring the success of the NPC and bringing needed transformation to the country.

Earlier in his remark, the out-going Supervising Minister of National Planning, Bashir Yuguda identified the signing of the agreement for the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) for the country for the next five years as one of his greatest achievement. He further said that the 11th EDF deal was sealed in Kenya and would help to address some of the challenges that Nigeria is facing in its quest to achieve its developmental goals.

Bashir Yuguda hinted that the launching of a study for the informal sector of the economy which would enable that sector to be fully integrated into the economy is another success story for his tenure at the Commission. Other successes, according to him are: the building of more relationships between national and sub-national levels through the joint planning boards aimed at strengthening the planning processes of the country government.

The Out-going Minister expressed hope that the new Minister would be able to leverage on some of the work he had started to enable him contribute significantly to the transformation of the economy.

In his closing remarks, the Secretary to the Commission, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo reaffirmed the commitment of the staff of the Commission to helping the new Minister to achieve the mandate and targets of the President in the bid to transform the country.