By Onyinyechi Edokwe

The Secretary to the Anambra State Government (SSG), Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, has advocated the institutionalisation of a long term development plan for the state to ensure continuity of policies and programmes across successive administrations.

Nnake made the call at a one day sensitisation workshop on Policy Implementation and Performance Review, organised by the Office of the SSG at Best Western Hotel, Awka, on Nov. 10.

The workshop, themed “Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for Effective Policy Implementation, Performance Tracking and Service Delivery in Anambra State,” focused on improving institutional capacity for policy implementation and performance assessment.

The SSG said the proposed 2070 development plan would provide a long term strategic direction for the state, irrespective of changes in political leadership. She urged successive administrations to build on existing achievements rather than abandon established policies and priorities.

According to her, the framework should prioritise human capital development, infrastructure and socioeconomic advancement, while ensuring that development planning extends beyond the tenure of any administration.

Nnake urged planning officers to demonstrate professionalism and commitment as custodians of government policies, stressing the need to assess government performance based on its impact on citizens rather than the number of projects executed.

She said effective monitoring and evaluation should measure jobs created, livelihoods improved, economic opportunities generated and the extent to which government interventions improved people’s living conditions.

The SSG also called for strong institutional structures to protect the state’s development blueprint from unnecessary changes, warning that frequent deviations from agreed priorities could undermine progress and waste public resources.

The workshop featured presentations by three resource persons. Mr Chukwunonso Okoye, Principal Planning Officer, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, spoke on results based performance monitoring, highlighting the importance of key performance indicators, reliable data collection and evidence based reporting.

Prof. Jaja Nwanegbo of the Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, spoke on aligning institutional programmes and performance with government priorities, emphasising the need for government agencies to link their activities to the state’s development objectives.

Also, Mr Chinedu Okpala Vincent, Principal Officer and Head of the Economics Affairs and Parastatals Department in the Office of the SSG, presented a paper on the new monitoring and evaluation framework and tools for government agencies and parastatals.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of the SSG and Supervisory Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Dr Nwabufo Nnankwo, also attended the workshop.

The workshop forms part of the Office of the SSG’s efforts to strengthen policy implementation, institutional accountability and service delivery while promoting a sustainable development framework that will transcend successive administrations.