By Oluwaseun Sonde
Nigerians Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has called for solutions to Nigeria’s development challenges, stated that these problems is human and can be solved by human beings, added that country that chooses to solve its governance and institutional problems has, in effect, chosen to develop and prosper.
Osinbajo stated this on Friday in his remarks at the opening of the 21st meeting of the National Council on Development Planning (NCDP) held in Abakaliki, Ebony State, adding that governance and institutional capacity account for the difference between performing and poorly performing economies.
Contained in statement released by the Vice President Spokesman, Laolu Akande on Saturday, as the theme of the meeting attended by members of the Federal and States' Executive Councils was "Good Governance and Institutional Capacity: Pathways to Sustainable National Development."
The VP spoke at the NCDP meeting during a 2-day official visit to Ebonyi State, where he also commissioned a number of projects executed by the State Government.
According to him, "Governance and institutional capacity to properly manage resources of nations hold the ace to the prosperity of the citizenry, and this is why authorities must continue to improve them at all times.
"It is the lack of good governance and weak institutional capacity in the poorer and less performing economies that largely account for the difference between the poor and rich countries.
"The way that public institutions and agencies perform public affairs and manage public resources, and also how they manage the participation of citizens, and ensure equity and the rule of law, are what makes the difference between the poor and rich, performing and non performing countries," Osinbajo added.
Speaking further, he noted that "poor governance and institutional capacity mean a weak economy, private sector performs sub optimally because the business environment is hostile.
"So fewer jobs are created, housing stocks may fall where private people do not build houses for rent, because when tenants fail to pay rent they can remain in the accommodation for years without paying rent because the court system is too slow and they cannot be legally evicted while the court process subsists."
Osinbajo cautioned against acts of dishonesty, noting that "lack of transparency and making bureaucratic corruption the norm" will lead to "backwardness and poverty of the majority".
The VP recommended "synergy amongst all tiers of government remains of paramount importance at this critical time when we continue to face the challenges of recovery from the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, now compounded by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war."
In his remarks, Governor David Umahi thanked the Vice President for his commitment and loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as his love for the State, noting that "there is a certain ecstasy that follows you whenever you are in Ebonyi State."
Present at the meeting were the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clem Agba; Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonnaya; the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State; Hon Justice Elvis Ngene; traditional rulers, among other senior government officials. The Finance Minister, Hajia Zainab Ahmed, also joined virtually.
Some of the State government projects the Vice President commissioned on Friday in Ebonyi State include the New Government House Chapel; Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway (Ishieke); the Concrete Dualised Mammy Market-Timber Shade Road (with street Lights) at Nkwegu Primary School; Dr. Sam Egwu Twin Flyover; and the Ishieke-Mile 50 dualised Concrete Road, Ezzamgbo.
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