By Meletus EZE
The Nigerian Evaluation Association (NEA), has described weak human capital and technical capacity as some of the challenges facing effective Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) activities in the country.
NEA’s President, Mr Aliyu Ahmed said this at the 3rd Annual General Meeting of the association on Monday in Abuja.
Aliyu said that M&E had not been institutionalised in the Scheme of Service of government, consequently in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) there was no designed department of M&E.
He said function of M&E had been subsumed under the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS) and Planning Officers with minimal M& E experience carryout the activities.
“Most performance indicators are not well designed, no clear system for determining Value for Money or social return on investment of government policies, programmes and projects.
“ The funding for M&E in government is quite poor or in some situations non-existing, M&E budgets are subsumed under DPRS and also there is poor feedback to citizens.
“In addition, M& E activities are reduced to field visits that is organised haphazardly and as a jamboree without recourse to planning for results,’’ he said.
According to him, the teaching, competencies and skills for M&E are yet to be standardised and regulated in the universities.
The official also said that the courses of measurements and evaluation were taught in about 10 universities but with diverse syllabuses.
Aliyu, however, urged the evaluators to sharpen their skills and to increase their influencing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country.
In his remarks, Dr Shamsudden Usman, Former Minister of National Planning commended UNICEF for supporting the establishment of the association.
Usman, the Chairman, Board of Trustee of NEA said the technical and financial support of UNICEF had helped to sharpen the association.
“I wish to acknowledge the support of other development partners and other key stakeholders that have contributed to the establishment of an umbrella association of professional evaluators in Nigeria.
“ Your consistent support has been a morale boost in the journey to date,’’ he said.
According to him, the AGM will witness a transition of leadership from interim executive to an elected one in line with the constitution of the association.
Usman thanked the Ministry of Budget and National Planning (MBNP) for providing the enabling environment and support expected from the government partner.
“We look forward to more support in the future, in line with the ministry’s mandate of ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation culture and practice in Nigeria,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Dr Zakariya Lawal, Director, National and Evaluation Department, MBNP said the idea to form the association came as a need to fill the gap in the sector.
Lawal said the journey to establish the association started in 2012 and it was registered in 2017, adding that the journey tested the will and commitment of many members and stakeholders.
“Let me therefore appreciate each and every member and partners at this historic conference, the first after the formal registration,’’ he said.
The director, however, assured of the commitment of the Federal Government to work with NAE and the umbrella of all the M& E association in Nigeria.
TBI Africa said that the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting witnessed election of the executives of the association.
Dr Uzodinma Adirieje emerged as the new National President of the association; Vice President – Prof. Olubunmi Ashimolowo; Sanya Matthew as the General Secretary, Anthony Ugwu as the Assistant Secretary.
Hamisu Kura emerged as the Financial Secretary and Adeola Awogbemi as the Publicity Secretary.
The election was done electronically.
