The Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) said yesterday that the 10-year development master plan would be according to the needs assessments of the zone.
The Managing Director of the NEDC, Mohammed Alkali told critical stakeholders at the engagement and consultative meeting on the Northeast Stabilisation and Development Master Plan (NESDMP) held in Gombe State for their inputs.
According to Alkali, the proposed 10-year NESDMP would encompass the relevant aspects of the Development Plans and Policies of the Gombe State Government and those of other partners.
“The plan shall contain programmes and schemes that promote and facilitate the physical and socio-economic development of the Northeast zone as well as estimates of the time and costs of implementing the programmes and schemes.
“The entire Northeastern states form the most critical partners of NEDC, in order to come up with a robust regional master plan. We consider consultations with state stakeholders as very pertinent towards producing a credible and comprehensive roadmap for recovery and sustainable socio-economic development of the region,” he said.
He stated that the NEDC, between June and September last year, conducted baseline surveys and consultations with grassroots stakeholders in all the 11 council areas in the state through the organised private sector.
He added that similar engagements were held with development partners, federal legislators from the zone and Federal MDAs and security agencies.
“Today’s joint consultative meeting with all representative groups of stakeholders in the state (MDAs, legislature, judiciary, council officials, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, private sector, CSOs, HDP actors, women and youth groups, persons living with disabilities) will be followed by finalisation of a Draft Master Plan that will eventually be presented for validation.
“The essence of having these diverse stakeholders under one roof here is to harness their individual and collective inputs to enrich the process and align with inclusiveness and bottom-up policy of NEDC,” he said.
Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya said the Northeast Development Commission is one of the numerous democracy dividends the sub-region is enjoying under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
“Since inception, the Commission has recorded many laudable achievements, especially in areas of humanitarian assistance, reconstruction and rehabilitation of communities affected by the war.
“However, to give this young commission a sound footing and ensure that it delivers on its statutory mandates, it is necessary to have a comprehensive master plan that will guide its future interventions,” he said.
According to him, the production of the master plan through this inclusive engagement process will certainly yield workable and acceptable strategies for the commission’s activities in this sub-region.
He added that such a feat will be a milestone and a big leap in the Northeast collective history and achievements.
“It will give us a road map for the transformation of critical sectors enshrined in the Northeast Development Commission’s mandates. Therefore, our active participation in this important consultative meeting is crucial to ensuring the success of the Commission. This is because, without a good roadmap that reflects the true yearnings and aspirations of the people of the sub-region, it will be difficult for the Commission to achieve the primary objectives of coordinating the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of infrastructure in the sub-region,” he said.
Representative of the CSOs in the state, Comrade Gloria Usman confessed the initial fear they had at the setting up of the commission but added: “We were relieved to note that the commission was not politicised, it has delivered its mandate accordingly at all the six concerned states.”
According to the House of Assembly Speaker, Muhammed Abubakar Lugerewo, said the commission was the best palliative agency that could happen in the region.
“We are convinced that the commission is doing very well because we’ve had increased hospital facilities, schools and better-constructed roads,” he said.
Also, after appreciating the strive of NEDC in the region, Gombe State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Gambo Magaji noted likely challenges that may threaten its future existence.
Magaji was worried about how the commission would raise funds to sponsor the master plan after the present government.
“How long will NEDC last because it may not be perpetual; how are we going to sustain it living to its mandate through its lifespan.
“We know that the NEDC is financed with three per cent of the Federal Government’s accrued revenue; what happens if other regions demand the same benefit. How prepared are we so that we are not caught napping?
“While Lagos makes N34 billion monthly, the entire Northeast region makes N6 billion. How do we tackle the future?” he asked.