The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, OON, mni has restated the ministry’s readiness to continue to build the capacity of staff including parastatals and agencies.
Jedy-Agba stated this in Lagos while delivering a welcome address at a 2-day capacity building on the implementation of Monitoring & Evaluation Framework Template for the Federal Ministry of Justice strategic plan 2024.
The programme is designed to equip staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively implement and utilize the M&E framework and enhance its Strategic Work plan.
Represented by the Director Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs Victoria Ojogbane, said the initiative which had participants drawn from Ministry, Agencies and Parastatals is to aid Departments, Units work plan and the Presidential priority reporting template.
She hailed Head of Programmes, ROLAC II International IDEA for involving all other stakeholders in the training.
“I acknowledge and thank all Directors present led by the Director Public Prosecution of the Federation, Deputy Directors and staff of the Ministry, Agencies and Parastatals.” She stated further.
While giving an opening remarks at the training, the DPPF, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar a Babadoko, described the step as significant aim towards accountability and transparency.
Mohammed, who declared the ministry readiness to collaborate with various stakeholders with the aim of developing an effective Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework added: “Over the next few days, we will engage in a series of interactive sessions, practical exercises, and discussions led by experts in the field. I encourage everyone to actively participate, share insights, and collaborate, as our collective efforts will drive the success of this initiative.”
He then tasked various departments within the Ministry of Justice, partners in the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and the general public to work together at ensuring that resources are optimally utilized, and the impact of the initiatives is maximized.
“The importance of a robust M&E framework cannot be overstated. It serves as the backbone of our strategic initiatives, providing us with the tools to measure progress, collate scientific data to improve the policy making process, identify challenges, and make informed decisions.
“By strengthening our capacity in this area, we are not only improving our internal processes but also reinforcing our commitment to delivering justice efficiently and equitably.
“To highlight the urgency and importance of our work, we must consider statistics case backlog in courts, access to justice for all and conviction rates.”
The DPPF reminded participants that the key component of the M&E framework is the ability to measure the impact and outcomes of the ministry’s initiatives.
“This involves setting clear smart objectives, Data collection and analysis, regular reporting, feedback mechanisms and continuous Improvement.” he added.
While giving his own remarks, the monitoring and evaluation officer, RoLAC ll IDEA International, Dr Joseph Odey hinted that the central goal of the capacity-building program is to strengthen the quality and oversight of the criminal justice system by equipping the Federal Ministry of Justice with the necessary skills and tools for effectively implementing Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) frameworks.
“This effort is aligned with the Ministry’s 2024 strategic plan, which seeks to ensure that criminal justice policies and programs are delivered with greater transparency, accountability, and measurable impact.
“The training aims to enhance the Ministry’s capacity to monitor and evaluate the performance of its departments and units, ensuring that the strategic plan and annual work plans are efficiently implemented. By fostering an environment of continuous learning and improvement, the Ministry will be able to draw critical lessons from its strategic plan, refine its policies, and strengthen its overall operational effectiveness.
“Emphasis on Quantitative Reporting and Accountability: Lessons from the European Union
One of the key points raised in the opening remarks is the importance of adopting a quantitative approach to policy implementation and reporting, drawing on best practices from the European Union (EU).
“The EU has demonstrated the importance of focusing on tangible, measurable elements when it comes to tracking the performance of policies and programs. This approach allows for an objective evaluation of progress, highlighting areas of success and identifying challenges that need to be addressed.
“Measuring the impact of the criminal justice system can be a complex task, given the broad range of outcomes it seeks to achieve.
“However, a robust M&E framework should focus on key indicators that can help assess the effectiveness of policies. In line with the strategic plan, the Federal Ministry of Justice needs to improve these key metrics by implementing evidence-based reforms and ensuring that its policies are responsive to the needs of the people.” Odey said.
Modupe Ogundoro
Director,
Information & PR
