National Assembly tasks state governments on 2015 MDGs

[The InfoStrides]

Members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have called on states and local governments all over the country as well as stakeholders to expedite action on MDGs projects under their respective supervision for the country to achieve the 2015 target.

 

During a courtesy call on the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko in Akure, the leader of the Committee, Al-Hassan Ado Dogowa, who reiterated the Federal Government commitment to achieving the 2015 Millennium Development Goals, expressed worry that many states in the country are still lagging behind in the execution of different projects meant for the attainment of the goals.

 

Ado Dogowa noted that members of his committee were in Ondo State to attend some programmes at the National Institute for Educational planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ondo. He commended the Ondo State Government for its outstanding development projects in the state.

 

Dogowa particularly lauded the administration of Olusegun Mimiko for intervention in some vital sectors such as health, education and for empowering market women after creating enabling environments for them to engage in befitting trading activities in the state.

 

The Chairman of the House Committee on Millennium Development Goals commended the intervention programme of the State Government in the area of Universal Basic Education provision. He espoused the Committee's conviction that the State Governor has the passion to develop every sector of the State economy. According to him, if other states of the federation emulate the Ondo State Government in their developmental programmes, the country will have no problem in attaining the MDGs by 2015.

 

He however implored the Nigerian media to assist in creating more awareness for both the governments and the people of the country on the need for everybody to play his expected role in the quest to achieve the MDGs by 2015.

 

In his response, Olusegun Mimiko thanked the Federal Government for paying attention to the Millennium Development Goals; saying Nigeria is one of the few countries that have dedicated offices for the MDGs to give attention to policies that would ensure attainment of the goals. He described the MDGs as very critical to the development of countries like Nigeria where the struggle to get out of poverty is still at a very high level, compared to the developed countries of the world.

 

While stressing the need for Nigeria to take the lead in every aspect of development in Africa, Mimiko called for a development plan that is all inclusive. He said that any development which does not create jobs and not built around human benefits is a wasteful one. "Like it was done in Ondo State, you can carry out physical urban renewal programme without subjecting the people to unnecessary hardship. Demolishing structures without providing alternative dwellings for people is another way of increasing their suffering," he noted.

 

The Governor, who called on international organisations to increase their financial backing to Nigeria in pursuit of people - oriented programmes, also enjoined all Nigerians to put religion, party politics and ethnic bias behind them and work for the over-all development of the country.