Govt Advised on Economic Reforms
Rivers
From Okon Bassey in Port Harcourt
For various reforms initiatives of Federal Government to achieve desired results, there must be a radical shift in government's approach to economic development measures.
The areas identified for such change of attitude include provision of enabling environment, transparency, accountability, value orientation and continuity in policy and programme implementation by government.
Participants at the 16th National Training Conference of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) made the observation in a communiqu� issued at the end of its 3-day conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The conference, which had in attendance erudite scholars, captains of Industry and a former Head of States, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), appreciated the courage of government at introducing the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategies (NEEDS) as a definite developmental strategy, but stressed the need for active public private partnership (PPP) as a vital strategy for sustainable development.
Apprehensive of the sustenance of NEEDS programme due to the usual summersault in government policies consequent upon changes in administration, the conference declared that for these strategies to be effective human capital development must given top priority.
The conference regretted that inspite of the abundant human and natural resources available in the country, poverty is prevalent in all spheres of national endeavour, constituting a major bane to developmental efforts in the country.
Attributing the unfortunate situation to inequality, injustice, corruption, socio-political crisis, ethno-religious conflicts, etc., participants insisted that "for any meaningful development to take place in Nigeria and the country to attract the much-desired foreign investment, definite efforts must be exerted by government to reduce the prevalence of the identified malaise."
To this end, the conference urged government to ensure the realisation of the full objectives of NEEDS which include that of wealth creation, employment generation, poverty reduction and value re-orientation by putting in place functional and enduring policies and structures.
Nothing with concern, the effects of the hydra-headed malady of corruption on development, attributable to lack of transparency and accountability, the conference said concerted efforts must be made to nip in the bud, the scourge by giving adequate support to the various institutional structures already in place to be functional and made more effective.
Against this background, the conference strongly advocated the removal of all obstacles, including bureaucratic bottlenecks, impending the effective operation of these structures and strongly recommended transparency and accountability by public functionaries.
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