Tomorrow, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, would be sworn in for a second term of four years to lead our country into what they have termed the “Next Level”.
But as we transit from “Change” to the “Next Level” it is important to acknowledge what has been done over the last four years by the APC-led Federal Government despite the financial constraints the government has had to deal with. From record investments in infrastructure, attempts at the diversification of the economy through agriculture and solid minerals, establishment of social safety nets, the school feeding programme and N-Power to mention but a few. Despite all these laudable projects and initiatives, a lot more still needs to be done and if we are to be honest, the last four years has been difficult for Nigerians.
While the re-election slogan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) evoked a sense of aspiration for something better than our present reality, I fear that majority of our people might be unwittingly left behind if government continues along the same path which successive administrations (the APC inclusive) have followed in the planning and delivering of services and development to our people.
It is my opinion that the ability of the Federal Government to deliver on its “Next Level” agenda depends largely on two factors; firstly, the projects and initiatives selected in realising the objectives of government and secondly the ability of the civil service to articulate and drive the intentions and agenda of Federal Government.
Unfortunately, as a nation we have made a poor job of delivering on the agenda of government. According to statistics provided by the Chartered Institute of Project Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) 56,000 projects valued at about 12 Trillion Naira are lying abandoned across the country. It should be noted that this figure accounts only for infrastructure projects and excludes service-based and technology projects. Furthermore, a 2015 report from the United Nations Industrial Development (UNIDO) found that 60% of Federal Government projects in Nigeria fail. Additionally, a 2012 study by the Project Management Institute (PMI), USA, found out that the delivery of projects by nationalgovernments on the African continent has been abysmal with 62% of projects undertaken on the continent failing or are challenged, while 50% of World Bank projects fail and 64% of donor funded projects failing.
The conditions that have led to these high rates of project failure still exist. And until these are addressed, we would be going nowhere fast irrespective of how much is released from the national budget for capital expenditure and government reforms.
While there are several actions that need to been taken to reverse this ugly trend, these two actions in my opinion provide a platform upon which the Federal Government can anchor its “Next Level” agenda if it seeks an increased pace of economic growth and shared prosperity for all.
Firstly, all agencies of government must as a matter of urgency begin the process of aligning strategic plans, projects and initiatives in line with the overarching ambitions of the Federal Government.While heads of government agencies are at liberty to initiate programmes and projects, when they fail to compliment or support the overarching ambitions of the Federal Government, they should be defunded.
With the 2019 budget standing at a dismal $28.8 billion for a population of 200 million persons and with 70% of the budget funding recurrent expenditure the need to ensure prudent utilization of the capital vote cannot be overemphasized. To be successful at this, government needs to empower its MDAs with the skills that enables them select projects that align with its own agenda. Let me add that project selection is a skill.
Secondly, and most importantly, the Federal Government should consider a new approach to planning which must trickle down and be adopted by MDA’s. Our problem as a Nation has never been about implementing an initiative or project rather, we have had a major problem with planning. I believe that critical to the realisation of the next level ambitions of the Federal Government is a planning approach that focuses less on deliverables e.g. a new road, a health centre etc., to planning from the point of view of benefits, impacts and results that the deliverables would deliver.
Deliverables are a means to an end, unfortunately in Nigeria we have become accustomed to celebrating deliverables as a sign of development and good governance. In actual fact except for road construction where the impact of government investment can be felt immediately, all other sectors of our economy require deliberate action before, during and after the realisation of project deliverables forthe impact of government investment to be felt. Over the last 20 years investments have been made by both the Federal and State governments in improving healthcare delivery especially through the construction and renovation of healthcare facilities. Have these facilities improved healthcare delivery in Nigeria? What about the National Stadium Abuja, built for about 54billion Naira, has it impacted on sports development and the economy of the FCT and the National as a whole?
It should be noted that a completed project is not necessarily a successful project. Completed projects are successful when they deliver benefits, results and impacts. Thus, planning from the viewpoint of project impact means government can deliver real, and measurable results faster and on a consistent basis to a greater number of Nigerians.
In conclusion, “Next Level” remains a slogan and making this slogan a reality goes beyond increasing budgetary allocation but entails selecting the right projects and initiatives that align with government intentions and the aspirations of Nigerians, overcoming bias that inhibits rationale decision making and measuring success from the impact, benefits and results that government investments deliver rather than strictly from the viewpoint of money expended and project deliverables.
Chimemelie Awopetu
Awopetu is a strategic project manager and a public impact advocate. He can be reached on [email protected]
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