Nigeria mandates annual evaluations for federal agencies

Federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria will be required to conduct at least one evaluation of their programs or projects annually and submit the reports to the National Monitoring and Evaluation Department. This resolution was adopted during the third annual meeting of Heads of Monitoring and Evaluation (HOME) held in Abuja from October 21 to 22.

The meeting, themed “Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for Improved Public Sector Performance,” gathered Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics, Heads of M&E, and other stakeholders to address challenges in M&E practices. Participants emphasized the need for stronger institutional positioning of M&E and better use of evidence-based data for accountability.

The communique stated that planning would coexist with M&E within the PRS structure of MDAs, and stakeholders recommended creating a professional cadre for M&E. Dr. Deborah Odoh, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, urged support for President Bola Tinubu’s development priorities.

Alhaja Olasumbo Ayinde-Yakub, Director of the National Monitoring and Evaluation Department, assured stakeholders of effective practice translation.