The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening reforms aimed at strengthening evaluation and monitoring (E&M) practices across Nigeria’s public service.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, made this known in a goodwill message delivered at the national symposium of the Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE) held yesterday in Abuja.

Olaopa emphasized that an effective monitoring and evaluation system is fundamental to national development and must be fully integrated into public service operations. He explained that for the FCSC—responsible for appointments, promotions, and discipline within the Federal Civil Service—the implications of E&M are far-reaching.

According to him, building a functional national M&E framework requires the right tools and systems as well as a professional workforce equipped with the necessary skills, values and incentives. He revealed that many of the challenges hindering M&E performance in government stem from weaknesses in the human resource environment, such as:

• vague job roles,
• absence of competency frameworks,
• misalignment of recruitment with institutional needs,
• weak recognition of analytical skills in promotions,
• inconsistent career progression, and
• posting practices that undermine continuity and institutional memory.

In response, Olaopa said the Commission has initiated reforms to strengthen M&E capacity across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). These reforms include standardising job descriptions for M&E officers, developing competency frameworks aligned with global best practices, creating clearer career pathways, and ensuring recruitment prioritises candidates with backgrounds in evaluation, statistics, data science, planning or social research.

He added that embedding evaluative competencies into promotion assessments and stabilising postings for officers in M&E roles would help build a culture of evidence-based governance.

Describing the Nigerian Association of Evaluators as a critical partner, Olaopa noted the association’s expertise in shaping evaluation standards, ethical practices and capacity development. He said the Commission looks forward to working collaboratively to refine frameworks, enhance ethical guidelines, expand training opportunities and strengthen communities of practice in the public service.

Olaopa stressed that for Nigeria to achieve its development objectives, stakeholders must rethink how programmes are planned, executed and evaluated. This, he said, requires strengthening institutional capabilities, improving data systems and cultivating a professional workforce grounded in integrity and analytical rigour.

“Only then can we build a public service that delivers effectively and consistently for the Nigerian people,” he said.

He also remarked that at a time when public expectations are rising, the work of evaluators is increasingly crucial to improving government performance and strengthening accountability.

The FCSC chairman underscored that monitoring and evaluation are vital functions in modern governance, especially as governments undertake major development initiatives and sectoral reforms. He warned, however, that despite progress, Nigeria still faces structural challenges—including the long-standing disconnect between policy formulation and implementation.

Olaopa noted that programmes often falter because MDAs responsible for execution are not adequately involved in design processes or prepared for implementation, resulting in incoherent performance indicators, weak planning and limited institutional readiness.