Wednesday July 09, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |
In a major step towards enhancing transparency and service delivery in governance, the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, has commenced a three-day Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System Compliance Assessment Exercise. The exercise, which began on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, is taking place at the conference room of the Ministry in Uyo and will run through July 11.
The assessment, the first of its kind at the sub-national level, aims to evaluate the strength of M&E systems across key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state, with a view to identifying areas of strength, highlighting gaps, and providing technical support for improved accountability and implementation of government programmes.
Declaring the event open, the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Linus Nkan, welcomed the visiting team to the state, expressing appreciation to the Federal Government for selecting Akwa Ibom as the pilot state for the compliance assessment. He commended the collaborative effort between the national and state governments to strengthen institutional M&E frameworks, noting that the exercise aligns with the ARISE Agenda of His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, PhD.
“We are committed to using data and results to drive policy decisions. This visit underscores our readiness to embrace best practices in planning, budgeting, and evaluation,” the Commissioner stated.
The lead of the visiting team from the National Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Mrs. Mary Inwang, outlined the objectives of the assessment, stressing the need to understand the status of M&E in MDAs, address systemic gaps, and offer capacity support for sustainable improvements. She described the initiative as vital to ensuring all tiers of government are able to track and report on development outcomes effectively.
Also speaking, Mr. Abiodun Oyeyemi, a member of the team, delivered a presentation titled “Imperatives for Developing and Implementing a Functional Monitoring & Evaluation System in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.” His presentation emphasized the importance of M&E in evidence-based governance and result-oriented planning.
Key MDAs participating in the assessment include the Ministries of Health, Education, Agriculture, Environment, Water Resources, Finance, and Budget and Economic Planning. The exercise involves Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), project and technical departments, as well as M&E Focal Persons from the selected agencies. Officials are expected to present relevant documents such as strategic plans, M&E reports, capacity development plans, and organograms.
In attendance were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Barr. Christopher Udoh, management staff, representatives from the relevant MDAs, and other key stakeholders.
The exercise marks a significant milestone in institutionalizing a results-based M&E culture at the sub-national level, setting the stage for evidence-informed decision-making and improved developmental outcomes across the State.
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