By Patrick Obia
The Cross River State Government has disclosed that it is wrapping up its 30 years Growth and Development Strategic (GDS) plan.
The disclosure was in an exclusive interview with our reporter by the Chief Economic Adviser to the Cross River State Governor, Dr. Francis Ntamu who doubles as the Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission.
In the interview he assured that the GDS, State budget and other important documents that has received wide criticism for not being accessible “will be online soon for Cross Riverians to access.”
He said the GDS is a 30 years plan drawn from consultation across the 18 Local Government Area of the State; expressing optimism that the plan will enable the State pay attention to outlined loopholes.
His words: “The 30 years plan mirrors our growth path, it suggests to us those loopholes that we need to pay attention to as a State so as to transit the State from a 3rd class sub national to a world top first class sub national.
“It means that it hold decision makers and plan administrators by hand by way of bringing the thoughts of the people across the 18 Local Government Area of the State looking at the key stakeholders; farmers growth, market women, co-operative society , transporters, professional groups.” He said.
The Chief Economic Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade reaffirmed that “the GDS is in line with the Federal Government of Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017-2020 and also the United Nations Attainable Goals Frame Work.”
Stressing the importance of the GDS, the Vice Chairman of Cross River State Planning Commission reiterated that it will help every administration know where it situate as a State within the overall quality of Nigeria as well as regional and global economy.
His words, “What are you going to find in the GDS, you are going to find for instance clear outline on where we situate as a State within the overall quality of Nigeria, where we situate within the global contest of Nigeria economy, where Cross River State situate with regards to the regional economy and of course it is going to hold you by the hand with regards to other aspect of our existence.
“It’s also going to tell you what effort we are making toward wealth and job creation for our people from various interventions of current and previews administrations and what strategies do we need to put in place to optimize results to ensuring that we scale up from our current level of performance.” He said.
Ntamu however maintained that 30 years plan is a template with room for update every 5 years of the 30 years to give opportunity to emerging issues.
Listen to audio below.
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