By Amuche Agbo, Abakaliki

The Vice-President of the Federation Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Friday urged the three tiers of government to maintain the existing synergy between them to improve national economy.

The Vice President gave the advise while closing the 21st edition of the Joint Planning Board and the National Council on Development Planning meeting which began on the 6th of April 2022 in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

The Vice-President said that such synergy would assist in surmounting challenges hindering economic enhancement.

According to him” these challenges include corruption, recovery from the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic effects of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Which has led to high price and supply shocks in the food and fuel markets and we should collectively brace for its inevitable economic challenges,’’ the Vice President said.

He commended the National Council on Development Planning for sustaining the meeting, noting that it remained an important platform to set the tone for the nation’s economic recovery.

“President Muhammadu Buhari strongly believes that national councils such as this play an important role in boosting economic and related cooperation between states that will help to
ensure a better coordination of economic policies to ensure poverty reduction and sustainability in the economic development,’’ he stressed.

The Vice President also commended the Ebonyi state government under the leadership of His Excellency Engr David Nweze Umahi FNSE FNATE and governor of Ebonyi State and the incoming president of the federal republic of Nigeria for ensuring the successful organisation of the event and its infrastructural strides which had enhanced its people’s wellbeing in the state.

Earlier, in his remarks, the Ebonyi State Governor Engr. David Umahi thanked the vice-president for the visit and the National Council on Development Planning for choosing Ebonyi to host the meeting.

“I specifically commend the vice-president for his commitment and loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and their doggedness in confronting the nation’s daily challenges”
Umahi said.

“The challenges facing our country are not peculiar but global, with the country only having its fair share of such challenges, but I believe strongly that with God, patriotism and commitment, the efforts of both leaders would see us through the challenges,’’ Governor David Umahi said.

Umahi further advised Nigerians that the call for states and local government councils to control Value Added Tax was an invitation to anarchy as it should be left for the Federal Government to control.

While addressing the close of the meeting, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, noted that recommendations from the meeting would enhance development planning.

In a related development, the Vice President His Excellency Yemi Osinbajo SAN, inspected the ongoing construction of Abakaliki international Airport, completed flowers and on going flyovers in the state and the already completed Ebonyi State Shopping mall, University of medical sciences Uburu, okposi- Uburu road, St Joseph Umahi flyover
and Commissioned the Christian Ecumenical Center constructed by Governor David Umahi.