By Faridat Salifu
The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) has expressed the need for improved coordination among federal, state, and local governments to address policy fragmentation and duplication.
The attributed the failure of past development plans to poor policy coordination among the three tiers of government.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Wednesday, December 11, NISER’s Director-General, Prof. Antonia Simbine, stressed that the lack of policy alignment in Nigeria’s federal system has contributed significantly to the failure of major economic plans.
“While federalism allows sub-national units to develop independently, it often leads to duplication of policies, overlaps, and fragmented efforts across the three tiers of government. This highlights the urgent need for better policy coordination to achieve sustainable development,” she stated.
The event, which brought together officials from the federal government and representatives of state planning ministries, highlighted the critical role of collaboration in driving socio-economic progress.
Participants included the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, Ayokunle Isiaka, and permanent secretaries from Imo, Benue, and Nasarawa states.
Prof. Simbine reviewed Nigeria’s history of development planning, referencing initiatives like the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), Vision 20:2020, and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
Despite these efforts, she noted, the Human Development Index (HDI) for Nigeria remains low, recording only a 22 percent improvement since 2004, with a value of 0.548 in 2023.
“This reflects weak outcomes in health, education, and economic indices, underscoring the need for more cohesive planning and implementation frameworks across all levels of government,” Simbine said.
NISER, she said, is currently leading a Special Team Research Project (STRP) titled “Planning for Economic Development and Policy Coordination in a Federal State.”
The DG said the project aims to enhance economic development planning and policy alignment among Nigeria’s tiers of government.
The initiative was introduced to stakeholders at the meeting, where Prof. Simbine stressed its importance in reshaping development processes.
“This project is designed to strengthen economic planning and policy coordination in states across the federation, ensuring that government efforts translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives,” she explained.
Speaking at the event, Ayokunle Isiaka, Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to ensuring that all laws and policies foster economic prosperity.
Source: EnviroNews