(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Shamsudeen-Usman5.gif) The Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, has stated that the Federal Government will work to ensure that the benefits of its interventions are internalised and replicated for greater impact in the economy.
The Minister gave the assurance in Abuja, Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 during the signing ceremony of the financing agreements for the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme, Phase III.
The intervention is in the areas of support to Water/Sanitation Sector Reform, Nigeria Competitiveness Programme, Maternal and Newborn Health Outcomes in Nigeria and Energy Policy Advisory Programme.
The financing agreement, which is worth €89million (over N18billion), was jointly signed by the Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, His Excellency, Dr. David MacRae.
The Minister of National Planning was represented at the signing agreement by the Secretary to the Commission, Ntufam Fidel Ugbo, Esq.
The financing agreement which is for the purpose of providing further support to the country's effort at poverty reduction and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), also signals the commencement programmes aimed at improving specific targets in the health, water and sanitation sectors as well as the competitiveness of the non-oil sector of the economy.
The Federal Government had in November 2009, signed the 10th EDF Country Strategy Paper – National Indicative Programme with the EU for implementation of seventeen indicative programmes in the country.
As at 2012, the country has committed 85% of the envelope for the 10th EDF programmes, which amount to €667million to programmes among which was Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform II.
Accordingly, under the 2013 Annual Action Plans, the Federal Government of Nigeria also submitted proposal for the support to Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme III.
The three sector support programmes will significantly contribute to increased access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene services as well as poverty reduction and sustainable development in the benefiting States of Adamawa, Ekiti and Plateau.
Other areas of the intervention also include improving the health status of women and children, jobs creation and poverty alleviation in the country, by enhancing the business/investment climate and facilitating international trade respectively.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. David MacRae, in his remarks, stated that, improving governance across all the sectors of public and private services should be a priority for all the Nigerian leaders at Federal, state and local levels.
He further noted that, the fund which is entirely a grant should assist Nigerian leaders in improving the living conditions of all Nigerians.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria
Federal Governments should do more is all I can say. There are better things they can do to improve Nigeria as a country.
Well, more of this from the Federal Government and we would be talking of massive economic development in Nigeria