Re: Vision 2020: Autopsy of policy failure
You could see that while researching for the article, the author may have come across some revolting figures that put him in a rage, and unfortunately coloured his judgement. For instance, he felt particularly riled by the revelation that there are over 11, 000 “projects in varying stages of abandonment or dereliction dotting the national […]
You could see that while researching for the article, the author may have come across some revolting figures that put him in a rage, and unfortunately coloured his judgement. For instance, he felt particularly riled by the revelation that there are over 11, 000 “projects in varying stages of abandonment or dereliction dotting the national landscape.” This piece of information obviously pushed him to conclude, albeit hastily that the country’s leaders lack the capacity to implement development programmes.
Olukotun is probably not the only Nigerian who feels concerned that things could work better in the country. But in his case, Olukotun may have been probably too angry to even see the signs of humble, earnest and diligent work as well as results already being achieved on the economic space by dedicated public officers in this administration; an indication that the desired change has come.
The point has to be made that the problems of this economy are deep-rooted and wrought over time and this administration, not being populated by miracle workers, cannot claim that it could instantly wish away the age-old distortions in the system.
One can actually understand Olukotun’s frustration when he described the ‘revelation’ on the high number of uncompleted projects across the country as “a metaphor of futility and fiasco.” But he should realise that even that piece of information in itself, has a positive ring to it. He was able to determine the number of uncompleted projects because the Jonathan administration in pursuance of its Transformation Agenda, had conducted an audit of all the federal government projects in the country that had been awarded over several years under different administrations, and has determined to prioritise the key ones for completion.
This is in deed, in line with the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda which has occasioned the comprehensive reforms going on in different sectors towards infrastructural renewal, promoting sustainable development and the growth of the nation’s economy. One of the areas that are undergoing total revolution is agriculture. Here, the Federal Government is continuing with its strategic plans to transform the sector along the value chain, to achieve food security, boost exports and create mass employment.
Similarly there are far-reaching reforms going on in other sectors like power, education and health, where efforts are geared towards effective manpower development, improving healthcare delivery and boosting industrialisation along the lines of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
What we can’t run away from is the fact that there is palpable anger, apathy or even antagonism in the people’s appreciation of government policies, no matter how well intentioned. This is understandable, given that Nigerians had become so accustomed to failed promises in the past, that they are at best, sceptical with the introduction of any new economic agenda.
But the truth is that this country has turned the corner with a clearly articulated strategic long term plan whose implementation processes are already being diligently pursued by the Jonathan administration.
That is why people like Olukotun now run the risk of isolating themselves when they wilfully refuse to appreciate and judge on their own merit, the gains of the economic agenda of the Jonathan administration. Despite the consistency maintained by this government in regularly defining the link between the Nigeria Vision 2020, and the Transformation agenda, the author simply chose to insist that the former had been “abandoned or substituted” with the later. There is no doubt that with the Government’s mind trained on the strategic long term development goals as enshrined in the Vision 20: 2020, there is also the need to focus on medium term priorities that are critical to national growth.
The difference is that while the First NIP is national, incorporating the plans of the lower tiers of government, the Transformation Agenda represents the key policies, programmes and projects to be pursued by the Jonathan administration (2011-2015). Both, moreover, are firmly rooted in the Vision 20:2020.
The President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan reiterated this connection when he told Korean investors in Seoul that every policy and programme being put in place by his administration was aimed at achieving the country’s dream of realising its Vision 20:2020 – to be among the 20 top economies in the world in the next 20 years.
Olukotun even sounded somewhat contradictory when he in one breathe described Vision 2020 as “unimaginative and drab recycling of programmes developed elsewhere,” and in another, admitted that the late President Umar Yar’adua while inaugurating the programm, “ commissioned a study group comprising 1,000 experts working for over nine months” to produce a draft of Nigeria’s Vision 2020.”
To set the record straight, moreover over 5, 000 Nigerians worked over a six months period to produce the Vision 20:2020 blueprint.
As the co-ordinating arm and the pivot of the government’s economic planning, the National Planning Commission (NPC) is already playing a major role towards the effective implementation of the Transformation Agenda and the Vision 20:2020. It is common knowledge that under the leadership of Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, National Planning Minister, the Commission had spearheaded Nigeria’s return to strategic development planning after about three decades of allowing the economy to drift in the wilderness without a clear, long term, growth and development trajectory.
To promote transparency and accountability, the NPC has also developed key performance indicators [KPIs] for all the MDAs, under its Monitoring & Evaluation function, to facilitate the effective tracking of performance. It is the first time such would happen in Nigeria.
The performance tracking is also focussed on service delivery to the Nigerian people. Unlike in the past where performance is based on how much has been spent (budget) or the items provided (output), the focus is on outcomes delivered to Nigerians-measured by such indicators reduction in material and child mortality, reduction in the illiteracy rate, number of hours of electricity provided, reduction in PHCN system collapse, etc.
Along this line, the NPC in July 2011 carried out the first-ever public presentation of the Monitoring and Evaluation Report on the performance of the federal MDAs as at December 2010. To deepen this development, the Commission is just about releasing the report of evaluation of the performance of the MDAs in 2011. One other radical measure that would promote accountability in public office is the development of a performance contract charter to bind all the ministers and heads of parastatals to their mandates and set goals.
Unfortunately, many Nigerians including a section of the media appear not to appreciate these remarkable milestones, apparently because of already explained deep-seated distrust of the government. But it becomes plainly bothersome when those who should understand the imperative of the Vision more than the man on the street who is already up beat about its promises, chose to simply ambush and savage it. We saw this recently in two newspaper articles written by Gabriel Omo and Roseline Okere with the suggestive headlines of ‘Nigeria: The dream and reality of Vision 20:2020 dreamers’ and Vision 20:2020: A vision on the death row …’ respectively. There is no gainsaying the fact that these articles were written with a mindset without any recourse to available evidence.
It is a pity and on record, that all the three writers made no attempt to contact the NPC to be better informed and updated of these and other developments before going to town with their opinions.
As we conduct a dispassionate assessment of economic performance in recent times, you cannot but admit that there are gaps requiring improvement especially in the already identified areas of infrastructure. But it would amount to torturing the truth, if we fail to point out that the prevailing macroeconomic fundamentals look strong. It is instructive that, while growth in the developed and many emerging markets (including the ones Nigeria seeks to overtake) has remained either static or continues to regress, Nigeria’s economy has maintained a robust growth trajectory, averaging 8% in the last three years. Recent data posted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) put Nigeria as the third fastest growing economy in the world, after China and India, as a result of the growth of the nation’s economy from 6.9 per cent in 2009 to 7.4 per cent this year; a development that also strongly raises the hope of achieving the Vision 2020.
Recently, Business Day reported that Nigeria’s expected rebasing of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year, to better reflect the structure of the economy, may catapult it to the 30th largest economy in the world, just behind South Africa ($422 billion), Austria ($425 billion) and Argentina ($435 billion) from its current 40th position.
These are obviously sound indicators that are attracting positive international attention and receiving rave reviews globally, as pointers to better days ahead.
Furthermore, many international analysts and rating agencies, including Fitch, have continued to upgrade and positively revise the country’s business profile. What is currently lacking is the appreciation and buy-in of the elite and a section of the media. In other emerging economies where similar programmes are succeeding, there exists manifest citizen enthusiasm towards owning the Vision, with people from all walks of life assuming their roles towards its implementation.
Those who would prefer to remain in the old order of ad hoc approach to economic planning should realise that there is wisdom in the good old maxim, which says that where there is no vision, the people or organisation will perish.
Mr Eze is the Technical Adviser on Media and Communications to Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, National Planning Minister