Policy Summersault, Setback to National Growth, Devt, Says  A’Ibom Gov

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Umo Eno, has blamed policy summersaults in the country for the lack of continuity by successive administrations, which he said has resulted in a serious challenge and setback to national growth and development.

 The governor made the remark while addressing participants of the Senior Executive Course 45, 2023 from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, during a courtesy call on him at the Government House in Uyo at the weekend.

According to him, policy continuity and pursuit of a national agenda were among the trump cards of prosperous nations, challenging the Institute to consider failure by successive administrations in Nigeria to implement the policies of their predecessors as an important area of research, “as it directly affects the country’s development.”

Eno, who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, noted that in spite of the Institute’s efforts as a foremost policy formulation centre and a key contributor to the all-round development of Nigeria, there has been a disconnect between policy formulation and implementation in the country.

“It is imperative that the end of policy should be holistic, sustainable national development, veritable economic growth and above all, improved standard of living for the people,” he stated.

The governor, however, gave the assurance that the present government in Akwa Ibom State would stem rural-urban drift through aggressive rural development, creation of jobs and empowerment of youths with relevant skills.

He said the pursuit of food sufficiency, revamping of healthcare system, paying attention to the education sector and protection of lives and property would not be treated lightly.

In achieving these, he said the state government would welcome ideas from persons and institutions such as NIPSS, saying with teamwork and partnership, proper results would be achieved in the development of the state and the people.

The leader of the team and Director of Research, NIPSS, Professor Dung Pam Sha, said as the country’s foremost think-tank, the Institution aims at developing top-class technocrats to conceptualise and track implementation of innovative and dynamic policies which are critical for national development.

With this year’s theme: ‘Industrialisation, Energy, Security and Climate Change’, he said the team would come up with a report at the end of the visit, and appealed to the state government to send representatives to witness the presentation of the report in November this year.