NDP VS. MDGS: MOVING NIGERIA FORWARD

NDP VS. MDGS: MOVING NIGERIA FORWARD

The school of leadership and administration has established that where there is no vision, the people perish. A clearly defined vision inspires and guide decisions, activities, and the utility of resources among others. It becomes obvious that where there is no clearly defined vision with mapped out strategies for achievement, abuse of position and misappropriation of resources becomes inevitable.

National Development Plan (NDP) is a culture for nations that are resolved to economic growth and social change. There is the East Timor National Development Plan of May 2002 (a post- independence plan); the Republic of Zambia Fifth National Development Plan 2006-2010; the Kenya’s Vision 2030; and more recently within the shores of our nation, the Economic Master Plan 2012-2015 of the Ogun State Government.

NDP is not alien to Nigeria as history dating back to 1946 shows that the colonial government introduced a 10 year plan of development and welfare for Nigeria under the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund. This was later abridged to five years. Nigeria has adopted the NDP after independence to foster development.

NDP is a veritable tool to accelerate economic growth rate and achieving sustainable social and political equilibrium. The First NDP of 1962-68 stated that: “The basic objective of planning in Nigeria is not merely to accelerate the rate of economic growth and the rate at which the level of the population can be raised; it is also to give her an increasing measure of control over her own destiny”. The Second NDP stated further that “national planning should be aimed at the transformation of the whole society: The present plan… recognises explicitly the possibilities of using planning as a deliberate weapon of social change by correcting defects in existing social relations in various spheres of production, distribution and exchange”. Succinctly put, NDP is a panacea for social change.

It is congenial to trace the history and effect of NDP in Nigeria.

The practice of NDP in Nigeria started in 1946 when the Colonial government introduced what it tagged “Ten Year Plan of Development and Welfare for Nigeria”. The focus of this plan was building transportation and communication system. Little provision was made for industrial development. It was also selective in its focus on agriculture as there was concentration on limited range of cash crops which include cocoa, palm products, cotton, groundnut and timber. It has however been argued that this plan was meant to serve the interest of colonial masters rather than that of Nigerians. The truism always remain that it formed the origin on NDP in Nigeria.

Since independence in 1960, Nigeria have formulated and launched other development plans, which were more comprehensive. The First NDP was launched in 1962 and was to cover a period of six years (1962-68). This was interrupted by military intervention in 1966 and the 1967-70 civil war. Consequently it was extended to 1970. The achievements recorded by this plan include: the Federal Government built Oil Refinery in Port Harcourt, Paper Mill, Sugar Mill, Niger dam (in Jebba and Bacita respectively, the Niger bridge, Ports extension, construction of a number of “A” roads. The University of Ibadan was built be the Federal Government; Ahmadu Bello University by the Northern Nigeria Government; University of Nigeria Nsukka by the Eastern Nigeria Government; and the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) by the Western Nigeria Government.

These were all achieved in spite of the crises because annual capital budget operated within the development plan framework. They were employed as the main instrument of control and allocation of development resources. This was in itself made possible by the existence of development plan which provided guideline for meaningful and coordinated development during the plan period despite the two political crises.

The Second NDP was launched in 1970 by General Yakubu Gowon. It was launched after the civil war ended. Due to this, it focused on the reconstruction of a war-battered economy and promotion of economic and social development in the new Nigeria. Its philosophy influenced by the exigencies of the war, included building a united, strong and self-reliant nation, a great and dynamic economy, a just egalitarian society, a land of bright and full opportunities for all citizens; and a free and democratic society.

The achievement of the Second NDP included but not limited to successful construction of many federal roads, the successful takeoff of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme, the introduction of federal scholarship and loan scheme for Nigerian students etc.

General Gowon further launched the Third NDP in 1975, a five year (1975-80) plan. This was a unique plan as it had extensive consultation with the private sector of the economy in the preparation process. The focus of this include: increase in per capita income, more even distribution of income, reduction in the level of unemployment, diversification of the economy, balanced indigenisation of economic activities. The implementation was adversely affected by the change in government in July 1975, three months after its launch. The change in government led to the re-appraisal of some of the cardinal objectives of the plan. More emphasis was however placed on those projects which were thought to have direct effect on the living standard of the common man. Sectors that were thus given priority included agriculture, water supply, housing and health.

The Fourth NDP (1981-85) was launched by President Shehu Shagari in 1981. The plan was designed to further the process of establishing a solid base for the long term economic and social development in Nigeria. This plan incorporated the Local Government at the level of preparation and allowed them to have their separate programmes under the plan. The Fourth NDP was again affected by the change in government in 1983 and another in 1985.

The tradition of NDP was brought to a halt during the Babangida administration. The achievements of the NDP (First – Fourth) form the basis of development in Nigeria today. Not so much exceptional achievement in development has been made to surpass the legacy of the NDP era. Regional governments were able to achieve much more owing to the spirit of the development plan.

One of the essential role of NDP as noted earlier is that it serves as an instrument of control and allocation of resources. When there are specific development projects to engage in, resources must be channeled towards realisation of same.

On account of the demise of the NDP, the spirit of continuity in governance has been de-emphasised. An administration may initiate a project that may take a while to complete, but once another administration comes in, a simple dislike of the previous administration may ignite an abandonment of such project irrespective of how beneficial it is to the nation or society. Hence, public offices are administered haphazardly. Little will one wonder how the nation got here- with over 70% of the population living in poverty, sporadic decline in the standard of education, neglect or poor maintenance culture of public properties and mal-administration of public investment. The popular saying that one who is failing to plan is planning to fail readily comes to mind.

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs)

After series of conferences, the world leaders in September 2000 in New York came up with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This is an offshoot of the World Summit on Social Development held in Copenhagen in 1995 which enthroned poverty eradication, employment creation, enhanced expenditure on education, health and other social indicators. The object of the MDGs is to bridge the gap between the developed and developing countries.

Briefly, the MDGs consist of eight (8) time bound goals (2015) with eighteen (18) targets and forty-eight (48) indicators. The goals are:

1.      Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger;

2.      Achieve universal primary education;

3.      Promote gender equality and empower women;

4.      Reduce child mortality;

5.      Improve maternal health;

6.      Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; and

7.      Develop a Global Partnership for Development.

Sequel to these goals, the African leaders met in July 2001 in Lukasa, Zambia, discussed and came up with a programme known as New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). This was adopted by the African Union (AU) and anchored on the premise that Africans must be involved in the development process. Moreover, they came up with a programme: African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to monitor the progress of NEPAD. This was anchored on four areas:

1.      Democratic and Political Governance;

2.      Economic Governance and Management;

3.      Corporate Governance; and

4.      Social Economic Development

In Nigeria, the Federal Government came up with National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS). This is the Nigerian plan for prosperity/ poverty reduction strategy. At the State level is the State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (SEEDS). The Local Governments have the LEEDS and Communities, CEEDS.

As the nation has lost touch with her own plan for development, the reception of the MDGs was with no difficulty. An objective perusal of the MDGs vis-à-vis the nation’s endowment with human and resource capital will reveal that the goals of the nation should be more than the ones prescribed by the MDGs. However, adherence to the MDGs at least is better than not having a vision at all to run with.

The time limit for realising the MDGs is 2015. So, we should ask how far how far we have gone in achieving these goals. A fair assessment of the NEEDS confirms that it contains worthwhile strategies for development but the achievement is scanty leaving so many substantial ones unattained. Such of the unattained is on education which includes:

1.      All primary and secondary schools curricula will be reviewed and streamlined so that the products can profit from higher education as well as co-operate maximally in the world of work.

2.      Establishment of Handicraft/ Resource Centres at least one in each Local Government in the country.

3.      Re-activation of all the defunct Handicraft/ Resource Centres nationwide.

The achievement of these would have contributed immensely to the economic activities and standard of living of the people.

It may be surprising to realise that the complete liberalisation of pricing and marketing of petroleum products leading to the recent proposed phase out of government price subsidies to NNPC is one of the NEEDS. However, the commitment of the nation to achieving the MDGs is far below average. This may also account for the people’s lack of trust in the system to achieve sustainable development in the nation. The offices of the MDGs are next to non-functional to say the least.

The MDGs have been so infused into our system to the extent that it has a Community Development Unit in the NYSC Scheme. To the extent at which the NYSC members of the MDGs are achieving so much in development in various communities, the salient question to also ask is what next after 2015.

The MDGs have succeeded in reiterating the indispensable role of development planning to us as a nation. As we continue to draw the curtain of the MDGs, we should restore the tradition of the NDP. There is so much to be done in developing our nation which should not be left to be determined at the pleasure of public office holders.

For Nigeria to achieve sustainable development, there must be clearly mapped out strategies stating short, medium and long term goals. The short term plan should include a critical appraisal of all existing policies and legislations and their review to facilitate the attainment of the ultimate goal of social change and economic prosperity.

The preparation of the NDP should involve the three tiers of government, the private sector, the people and stakeholders. It is quintessential that the NDP should be people involved and oriented. This will not only gain the people’s unreserved support for development but will also ignite resolute commitment to engage towards the achievement. This will also prevent the affairs of the nation from being administered haphazardly by elements in authority and achieve decline in the level of corruption in the nation. Clearly defined NDP will serve as a recipe for good governance.

In conclusion, a National Development Plan Committee should be set up for this task. The Committee shall be chaired by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and viced by the Minister for National Planning. The responsibilities of the Committee shall also include coordinating, monitoring and evaluating activities on economic growth, education, health, security, power, transportation, information and communication technology, rural development among other. With this, sustainable development in Nigeria becomes guaranteed.

Olusola Akinyemi Esq.

The President

The Joseph Initiative, Lagos.