By Palma Ileye
Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, has called on State Commissioners for Budget and Economic Planning to take a more proactive leadership role in aligning State development strategies with the Federal Government’s target of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Speaking at a two-day retreat for State Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Budget and Economic Planning in Abuja, Uzoka-Anite said achieving the ambitious economic target would require stronger collaboration between the Federal and State governments.
At the retreat, themed: “Aligning State Priorities for National Development,” held in Abuja, she stressed that the 2030 economic goal was no longer a distant aspiration but a national priority that demands immediate and coordinated action.
She urged State governments to move beyond passive implementation by identifying their comparative economic advantages and aligning their budgets, policies and development plans with national priorities.
According to her, the Renewed Hope Agenda provides the political commitment needed to drive the initiative, while the forthcoming 2026–2030 Medium-Term National Development Plan will serve as the framework for implementation.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Deborah Odoh, said the retreat was designed to deepen collaboration between the Federal and State governments and improve planning processes for national development.
She noted that the success of the National Economic Council depends on sound policies, professionalism and sustained cooperation among all stakeholders, urging participants to contribute actively throughout the retreat.
Also speaking, the newly elected Chairman of the Community of Practice, Mr. Sonny Akporokiamo Ekedayen, called on his colleagues to begin work immediately in advancing the country’s development agenda.
He pledged the commitment of State Commissioners to supporting national economic growth.
The retreat featured technical sessions led by development experts and ministry officials. Resource person Prof. Ken Ife presented papers on the role of States in national development and strategies for aligning State development plans with the 2026–2030 National Development Plan.
Other presentations focused on Nigeria’s macroeconomic outlook, strategic national development priorities, the preparation of the 2026–2030 National Development Plan, the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Governance Programme, and the Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities (SOLID) Programme.
