Conference of Directors of planning to facilitate implementation of medium and long term strategic plans – Dr. Usman.

[FMINigeria]

                        The Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman has stated that the key objective of the conference of Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS), is to reposition the DPRS to facilitate the formulation and implementation of medium and long term national, regional and sector strategic plans.

The Minister spoke in Ibadan, Monday,15th July, 2013 in his keynote address at the opening of 2013 Conference for Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS) in the Public Service.

According to Dr. Usman, "The purpose of the conference is to review the progress made on the resolutions of the 2012 conference and discuss a number of other issues, including the mid-term review of the Transformation Agenda, the key trust of the second national implementation plan (NIP), the national integrated infrastructure master plan, the power sector road map and a host of other issues."

The conference was being organised by the National Planning Commission in close collaboration with Oyo State Government, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Office of the Senior Special Assistants to the President on MDGs and the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD)

The theme for the 2013 Conference is "The Imperatives for Developing National, Regional and Sectoral Plans: Lessons Learnt from the Implementation of the Transformation Agenda."

The Minister further explained that the choice of the theme of the conference was in consideration of the fact that the application of strategic planning in public sector is relatively new, hence the need to enhance the skills of officials of the DPRS in the public service.

He also added that the present administration is already half way into the tenure of Transformation Agenda, and has just concluded and presented the midterm report to the public.

"The conference is to ensure coordination in building the capacity of officials of PRS Departments at the Federal and State levels, in strategic planning, in particular." He added that it will also serve as a useful platform for interaction and cross fertilisation of ideas among the DPRS for enhanced implementation of government policies and programmes.

Dr. Usman therefore, described the conference as a unique opportunity to participants to be acquainted with the key findings of the mid-term report of the Transformation Agenda and also to review the extent of implementation of key recommendations arising from Katsina and other previous conferences towards enhanced growth and development of the country.

Accordingly also, the Special Guest of Honour, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Executive Governor of Oyo state, while appreciating the importance of national planning, also described, planning as a critical success factor for all development.

The Secretary to the National Planning Commission, Barrister Ntufam Fidel Ugo, earlier in his introductory remark, has said that, National Planning Commission recognises the very importance of the roles of the various PRS in the public sector, and therefore, the conference provided opportunity to share experiences and see how policies can be improved and implemented.

The Ibadan DPRS Conference is the fourth in the series so far organised by the NPC, having previously conducted similar conferences in Minna (Niger State), Uyo (Akwa Ibom State) and Katsina (Katsina State) in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively.

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