’2013 Budget Not Pro-Poor’

[Shola Sholaz]

The  pronouncement by the Minister of National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, that the realisation of the Vision 20:2020 by Nigeria is under probability has revealed the reality on the rate of growth in the country.
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While many economic experts explained that the framework and strategies for economic growth and development in Nigeria for over three decades have been that of alignment and re-alignment, policy inconsistency and poor implementation, others said that government must diversify the economy into non-oil export sector to prevent over dependent on oil.
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Usman, while giving insight into the growth rate in the economy from 2009 fiscal year, revealed that the target by Nigeria to be counted among the top 20 developed economies in the world by 2020 may not be realised following the poor state of the power sector and other environmental factors militating against rapid economic transformation.
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"When government started the documentation of Vision 20:2020 in 2009 economic year, to be among the top 20 economies in the world, where were we in 2009? We were number 44. By the end of 2011, we were number 36, this is progress. We have made tremendous progress. I don't want any of you to meet me in 2020 and say you were the one who told us that we are going to be among the top 20 economies.  What I am saying is that, even if we are not among the top 20 by that time, we were number 44 in 2009. If by 2020 we are number 25, I will be a very proud man. The reason is because we are consciously moving and doing all the necessary things to move up there.