Nigeria lacks strong monitoring, evaluation framework for policy implementation

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has stated Nigeria lacks a strong monitoring and evaluation framework needed for implementing policies and programmes aimed at achieving inclusive economic growth and development.

According to the president, LCCI, Toki Mabogunje, the absence of a strong monitoring and evaluation framework means that the country cannot learn from its past mistakes.

Mabogunje stated this at the visit of a delegation of Senior Executive Course (SEC) 43 of 2021 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategies Studies, Kuru (NIPSS) in Lagos.

She added that monitoring and evaluation is critical for learning from past developmental efforts, adding that it helps to improve planning for economic growth.

“If there is one thing we really need, it is monitoring and evaluation at national and sub-national levels of government. For NIPSS, I want monitoring and evaluation to be one of your major focuses and how we need to incorporate monitoring and evaluation into what we are doing,” she said.

The LCCI boss added that one of the major shortcomings of leadership in both public and private sectors is the quality of strategy and programme implementation, stressing that this has significant implications for policy and strategy outcomes.

She explained that most often, strategies and programmes are excellent on paper but translating such programmes into concrete outcomes are often very big issues.

“We are generally not short of programme strategies and excellent policy documents, but implementation has always been the bane. Yet, a policy or programme is as good as its execution,” she said.

In her words, “As private sector players, we believe that good strategy implementation is critical for the creation of an enabling environment and the building of investors’ confidence. At a business level, strategy conceptualisation and effective execution is also very critical for firms to remain competitive and sustainable as a business.”

Also speaking, the leader of the delegation who also doubles as the Institute Librarian, NIPSS, Dr. Emmanuel Mamman, said the SEC would make a strong recommendation as regards to Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), pointing out that without an effective (M&E) framework, it would be very difficult to get policies and programmes implemented.

“Whatever programmes we come up with for them to be effectively implemented, there has to be a very strong M&E on ground to ascertain the programmes and policies implemented,” he said.

He said the main focus of the visit is to pay a study visit to Lagos State government, noting that the group is conducting a research on the topic given to them by the President.

“We have chosen to come to Lagos State because the State is doing very well in terms of policy implementation and we have seen it physically and before leave, through our interactions with the various agencies, we will get enough information for writing our reports to Mr. President,” he said.