By Tony Obiechina Abuja
The federal government on Tuesday declared that the absence of a robust Monitoring & Evaluation framework has often resulted in inefficiencies, duplication of effort, and missed opportunities for impactful development.
The permanent secretary in the federal ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Emeka Vitalis Obi disclosed this at a stakeholders engagement to revise the M&E policy framework in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration held in Abuja.
According to him, the Federal Executive Council approved the National Monitoring and Evaluation Policy in August 2022, and a national dialogue on the policy was held in February 2023 to discuss its operationalisation across all levels of government.
The permanent secretary said, “It has become important to review and critically examine the policy to ensure its alignment with Mr President’s Renewed Hope agenda, and bring up best modalities to ensure buy-in and compliance for seamless operationalisation of the policy across MDAs.
“Let me reiterate that operationalizing the National M&E Policy is critical to achieving an effective integrated M&E system across MDAs. This review will strengthen governance and reduce inter-agency rivalry and misunderstandings on roles and responsibilities.
” The National M&E Policy is a bold step to enhance transparency and accountability in governance as it seeks to institutionalise M&E practices across sectors and levels of government. It ensures that every intervention is guided by data, evaluated for impact, and adjusted for continuous improvement”.
Dr Obi further explained that the event marks “a pivotal moment in our nation’s commitment to data-driven policymaking. In an era where resources are increasingly constrained impactful programs and projects can still be achieved through a robust M&E systems which the policy stands for.
“The policy is not just a document but a tool for National Development. It is a framework for ensuring that every Naira spent delivers maximum value and translates into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
“At this time when Nigeria is grappling with complex developmental challenges ranging from poverty reduction and job creation to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the policy will ensure that our development efforts are targeted, effective and sustainable. It is essential that, as policymakers, we should be committed to good governance, fiscal discipline, and impactful service delivery.
“Monitoring and Evaluation should not be regarded as a bureaucratic processes, but as a lifeblood of effective governance and a renewed hope for our people. M&E Systems ensure that the actions we take, the resources we allocate, and the programs we implement deliver measurable results, with lasting impact on the citizens.
He noted that the success of the policy depends on the active involvement and implementation of all stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities, adding that to achieve meaningful progress in service delivery, “we must remain focused on effectively implementing this policy, ensuring that the principles outlined in the document translate”.
The permanent secretary said he was confident that with the active support of public servants’ dedication, and citizens active involvement, “we can collaboratively achieve the ambitious goals set out in this policy”.
He therefore enjoined all the stakeholders to recognise the importance of monitoring and evaluation for good governance and national development and to embrace the operationalisation of the policy as a collective responsibility to ensure that every federal, state, or local government initiative is monitored, evaluated, and improved for maximum impact.
He also urged Nigeria’s Partners, both local and international, to continue to support the M&E agenda, stressing that “together, we can build a nation where policies and programs are driven by evidence and measurable outcomes that ensure the benefits of development to citizens”.
In her presentation, the director of Monitoring & Evaluation in the ministry, Mrs Olasunbo Ayinde-Yakub said the policy refers to a set of guidelines established by the government to standardize the process of evaluating the effectiveness of public policies, programs, and projects across different departments and agencies.
According to her, key aspects of the policy include, defining the purpose of evaluations, such as to assess program impact, identify areas for improvement, and establishing core principles for conducting evaluations, like objectivity, transparency, ethical considerations, and stakeholder engagement.
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