Nigeria approves ministries' performance evaluation policy

Nigeria approves ministries' performance evaluation policy
Gloria Essien, Abuja

Nigeria has adopted a policy programme for the evaluation of the performances of Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

The Minister of Information and Communications, Mr Labaran Maku, made the announcement on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council's meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House in Abuja.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Maku said that the report, submitted by the Ministry of National Planning, was to guide the running of government and enable it assess areas of performance and improve on it.

He said the council agreed that the report would form the basis for the take-off of the new dispensation on May 29.

The Minister of National Planning, Alhaji Shamsudeen Usman, who also spoke at the meeting, said that his ministry worked with all the 92 MDAs and set key performance indicators in compiling the reports.

“The report is meant to measure whether the country is making progress or not. It starts by looking at a number of broad macro targets that was set for the country in Vision 20:2020.

“it will enable the president to set clear targets for his new ministers in the next dispensation,'' he said.

Giving details of the report, Shamsudeen said that as at December 31, 2010, Nigeria was doing well in GDP growth.

“This growth did not, however, directly reflect on employment generation and other indices of economic growth,” he said.

Infrastructural development

The council also approved ten key infrastructural projects worth 23 billion Naira for the Niger Delta region.

Maku said the projects included roads construction in Abia, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Bayelsa States.

The Minister said that the projects are part of the Niger Delta Infrastructure and Development Program of the Nigerian government.

He said the projects also included shore protection, erosion control and land reclamation.

“The Nigerian coastline has deteriorated over the years. The cumulative effect has undermined the quality of life in the region and threatened the livelihood of the people, which has contributed to the restiveness experienced in the region in the recent past,'' he stressed.

He said the council approved the augmentation of the contract sum for the dualisation of the East-West road section from Eket to Oron
in Akwa Ibom State.

Additional information from NAN.

Williams