Sokoto State Technical Working Committee on the 9-Point SMART Innovative Agenda has held a meeting with the new leadership of the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
Gatekeepers News reports that the meeting, presided over by the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, was held in the conference room of the Ministry.
Speaking at the meeting, the former chairman of the committee, and immediate past Commissioner of the Ministry, Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Zayyana, briefed the newly posted Commissioner on the milestones achieved, the challenges encountered so far by the Committee, and to suggest steps for driving the administration’s development blueprint.
Dr. Zayyana, advised his successor to focus on the completion of the State Development Plan initiated during his tenure and encourage government officials to make use of the Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index document recently launched by the state.
According to him the 9-Point SMART Agenda Framework have already been designed and UNICEF agreed to partner with the Ministry to scientifically assess the performance of each thematic area of the 9point Agenda.
He emphasized on the need for him to give due consideration to the State Key Performance Indicators with the Ministry serving as the coordinating body for the state’s development.
Dr. Zayyana further harped on the need for the sustainance of zonal town hall meetings where citizens inputs are being generated for the state budget and hoped to be extended to the ward and local government levels in the near future.
The former Commissioner, who voluntarily resigned his appointment to contest for the Gwadabawa/Illela Federal Constituency seat under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, also advised his successor to strengthen the Ministry’s Monitoring and Evaluation Department as well as the Department of International Cooperation for optimum results.
He used the opportunity to wish the Commissioner well and acknowledge all members of the team for their commitment to the success of their assignment.
Also speaking, the Commissioner, Dr. Bashir Muhammad Achida, expressed appreciation for the solid foundation laid by his predecessor in transforming the Ministry through innovative strategies aimed at achieving the goals of Dr. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto’s administration.
According to him, Dr. Abubakar Zayyana performed creditably in compiling the document of the 9-Point SMART Innovative Agenda, Multidimensional Poverty Index MPI and properly coordinating the activities of Development Partners in the state to ensure alignment with the goals of the present administration.
Dr. Achida pledged to consolidate on the successes recorded so far and introduce new ideas to move the Ministry to greater heights and boost the state’s economy.
The Commissioner further pledged to keep his doors open for meaningful advice from his predecessor, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of his assignment.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Buhari Umar Musheshi, acknowledged the contributions of all members of the Technical Working Committee on the 9-Point SMART Agenda for their tireless efforts toward achieving the desired goals.
Earlier, the Secretary of the Committee and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad and the State Statistician General, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulrahman Shagari, presented an overview of the Committee’s activities.
In their separate remarks, members of the Committee including the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Nasir Daniya, the State Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Comrade Bello Gwadabawa and Professor Abubakar Abdullahi highlighted key areas that require priority attention by the new Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, who now chairs the Technical Working Committee.
