Budget Minister Promises Strict Project Monitoring, Evaluation Mechanisms

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu has said his agenda for office would be anchored on President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda for sustainable economic development and democratic governance, while also outlining the key priorities of his administration.

Mr Bagudu said he will give special emphasis to key priorities that are critical to the delivery of the promise of President Tinubu to deliver economic growth and improve the livelihood of all Nigerians.  

The areas of focus include harmonisation of planning frameworks, alignment and prioritisation of medium-term development plan, presidential priorities and targets, campaign manifesto delivery with sector medium term strategic report in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking at his first media briefing at the headquarters of the ministry budget and economic policy in Abuja yesterday, Bugudu said under his leadership, the ministry will also promote the agreement with implementing MDAs on strategies and work plan to actualise and harmonise plans. “These agreed sector plans become the basis of the work with the budget office of the Federation and the respective MDAs to evolve a national budget.”

Bagudu told journalists that his ministry will find mechanisms of lowering the cost of monitoring and evaluation of government projects to ensure standardisation and efficiency of service including the use of technology and involvement of stakeholders, including the use of people from host communities where government projects are cited to monitor the projects.

He also promised to promote vertical harmonisation of plans between the federal government, states and indeed, other sub-nationals through the platform of the joint planning board, the National Economic Council and to also propose mechanisms that will foster cooperative planning.

The former Kebbi State governor promised to ensure there is a better linkage between economic policy development and implementation as provided in line with the mandate of the ministry as part of the plan to engender economic development. “Where there is inadequacy we propose changes, which I believe might lead to having appropriate legislation or additional clarity in mandate such that policy and implementation are linked to ensure more effective delivery,” the new minister said yesterday.

He also promised to propose an agenda of a national synergy between all tiers of government for easy and effective implementation of national plans “because we are all serving one federation – indivisible, united federation. We will start with attitudinal change; knowing that we have the support of the president.”

The minister said a new framework for coordinated planning and budgeting roles within MDAs that is operationally linked to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is beginning to emerge with the adoption of a plan-linked budgeting system in the preparation of future budgets of the federal government.

To optimise the gains of the policy, he said the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning needs to develop appropriate institutional frameworks to effectively operationalise the emergence of the National Planning Commission and Budget Office of the Federation.

The national planning minister stated that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) , during his tenure, would develop a clear measurable road map to a re-alignment of the National Statistical System (NSS) to achieve sector targets and SDG’s milestones.

He said the newly approved Social Protection Policy under the ministry would be given special attention in order to assuage the growing challenges of poverty and access to improved conditions of livelihood in its implementation. “We will pay special attention to social inclusion, welfare and the cardinal responsibility of states and local governments as vehicles of outreach to the citizens.”

Permanent secretary of the ministry Nebeolisa Anako said the appointment and deployment of Senator Bagudu to the ministry portends visible prospects for it in particular and the country at large.

He expressed the hope that the new minister would bring on board his wealth of experience, having served in several public offices for the enhancement of the budgetary processes of the federal government.