The high rates of unemployment, poverty and income inequality which Nigeria has been experiencing over the years have continued to be a serious cause for worry to the Federal Government, the minister of National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsudden Usman has said. 
To this end, the minister announced in Ibadan on Monday night that “the current administration is fully committed to the sustained formulation and implementation of strategic plans in the country,” adding that the various plans are already undergoing major reviews to meet the dire needs of the populace, especially the teeming unemployed youth.
 
Dr. Shamsudden Usman, while addressing the 2013 Conference of Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS) in the Public Service, held at Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan specifically listed the various sector strategic plans undergoing review by the Government.
  They include the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, Aviation Sector Roadmap, Gas Master Plan, Housing Sector Roadmap, Power Sector Roadmap, Solid Minerals Roadmap, the Education Sector Plan and National Health Sector Plan.
  Also included, according to him, is the National Integrated Infrastructural Master Plan (NIIMP) which is expected to be completed by August this year.
 
The minister tasked the various state governments in the country to collaborate with the Federal Government in this direction by developing regional medium-term strategic plans in line with the Transformation Agenda and Nigeria’s Vision 20: 2020.
 
His words:
  “In its effort towards institutionalizing strategic planning in Nigeria, the National Planning Commission has encouraged the Federal MDAs and Governments at the sub-national to develop their own strategic plans.
  The NPC is equally working closely with the States in cascading the performance management system to the sub-national level.
  In this regard, the National Planning Commission conducted the first training session on M&E for officials of the Oyo State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget in 2013.
  Oyo State is also one of the pilot States that the National Planning Commission has identified to provide technical support and guidance for the development of Nigeria’s successor medium term strategic plans.”
 
According to the minister, Oyo State’s choice as one of the pilot states for the measurement of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) at the state level, was in view of its age and size.
The minister also hailed Oyo State Governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi for his passion for the development and growth of the state, a situation which he said had led to the governor visiting his ministry on several occasions to ensure the betterment of the state.
In the same vein, he congratulated the state House of Assembly for passing into law a bill establishing the state Bureau of Statistics and the state government for setting in motion the process of recruiting the Chief Statistician for the state.
Dr. Shamsudden Usman, while expressing the regret for the relegation of planning to the background during the military era, said that the conference was aimed at developing planning and ensuring capacity building among the participants.
“The time has come in Nigeria when planning has to take its centre-stage in the scheme of things as against the military era when it was relegated to the background,” he stated.
 
In his remarks, Governor Ajimobi appreciated the importance of the National Planning Commission in the socio-economic development of the country, adding ``planning is the critical success factor of any organization, state or country.”
The governor assured the minister of the continued support of his administration to his ministry.