A university don and immediate past chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Adeolu Akande, has advocated a robust monitoring and evaluation framework as a panacea for the enhancement of good governance in Nigeria.
Prof Akande made the call on Wednesday while delivering the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zone B lecture, titled “Enhancing Good Governance in a Beleaguered Economy,” held at the Osun state council of the union in Osogbo.
Represented by Dr Idowu Johnson of the Political Science, University of Ibadan, Prof Akande pointed out that the efficient utilisation of resources, transparent decision-making processes, and accountability are essential factors in fostering economic recovery and sustainable growth.
The university don and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) noted that,” Central to this endeavour is the adoption of effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices, which can guide policymakers in assessing the impact of their strategies, identifying gaps, and making necessary adjustments to steer the economy in the right direction.”
Prof Akande said, “At its core, good governance ensures that decision-making processes are fair, just, and reflect the interests of all citizens”, adding, ” in the context of a beleaguered economy, good governance becomes even more critical to restore public trust and confidence”
Stressing that “one of the most crucial elements in a nation’s development is strong governance”, adding: “No matter how big or little, how many resources it has, or where it is located, a country may prosper with excellent government. A nation with an abundance of natural resources cannot prosper without effective government.
“Singapore was a developing nation with a meagre per capita income. Many people believed that Singapore would not be able to survive on its own. In terms of GDP per capita (PPP), Singapore is the third most developed nation in the world today.
“Singapore is the only nation in Asia to have a AAA sovereign credit rating from all of the major rating agencies, earning it the reputation as a tax haven.We saw it in Rwanda as it adopted more advanced institutions to rebuild from a devastating conflict.
“Finally, to enhance good governance, governments must establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework. The efficient utilization of resources, transparent decision-making processes, and accountability are essential factors in fostering economic recovery and sustainable growth.”
Speaking at the lecture, the NUJ Vice President, Zone B, Comrade Aderonke Afebioye Samo said, “it is the responsibility of NUJ to educate and enlighten the citizenry to the policies and programmes of government while also drawing attention of government to the plight of the people with a view to ameliorate the hardship.”