Reps C’ttee Holds Policy Dialogue on Aligning National Planning with Budgeting

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka has reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to strengthening Nigeria’s development planning through better alignment with the national budgeting process.

Isiaka made this known while briefing journalists in Abuja Monday, ahead of a two day national policy dialogue focused on improving coordination between economic planning and fiscal policy.

He noted that Nigeria has, over the years, developed several development frameworks, including medium- and long-term plans, but said the country has struggled to achieve expected outcomes due to weak implementation.

According to him, the disconnect between national plans and annual budgets has remained a major challenge, limiting the effectiveness of government policies and programmes.

“We are all aware that Nigeria has had development plans for quite a while, but the issue has always been how well those plans are aligned with the budgeting process and implemented,” he said.

The lawmaker explained that the policy dialogue is being organised in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Office of the Vice President, the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of National Planning.

He added that the forum would bring together legislators, policymakers, economists, and representatives of the private sector to review existing planning frameworks and identify gaps.

Isiaka said the dialogue would also provide an opportunity to examine the assumptions behind national development plans and test them against real sector experiences.

He stressed that unrealistic projections and poor coordination among institutions have contributed to the country’s planning challenges over time.

“The essence of this engagement is to interrogate our assumptions, learn from implementation challenges, and ensure that future plans are more realistic and achievable,” he stated.

The committee chairman further disclosed that participants would explore alternative budgeting models, including performance based systems, while reviewing the limitations of approaches such as zero based budgeting.

He expressed optimism that the outcome of the dialogue would enhance collaboration between the executive and legislature and produce practical recommendations for improving national planning and driving sustainable economic growth.