By Oji ONOKO

This is a well researched document that states clearly the focus of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, in the next three years. It also put NGF in proper perspective- how it evolved, its vision, mission, objectives and the road map to achieving these. The document shows an organization not only planning for the future but ready to cope with present challenges. Among issues addressed which throw light on what NGF intends to do are: Outputs, Performance Indicators, Targets, Indicative Outcomes, Prioritized Key Issues as well as Assumption and Risk Assessment.

The outputs are the results expected to be produced by NGF flowing from its strategic objectives. These include but not limited to: regular meeting of its committee to discuss issues of mutual and national interest and where appropriate reaching consensus; communicating with government and non-governmental agencies in relation to matters affecting governance and service delivery at all levels; playing an influential role in dispute resolution where appropriate and being instrumental in achieving satisfactory outcomes; feedback mechanisms in place, functioning and being monitored among others.

So how can these results be measured? The document states that there are three main ways to “measure performance Effectiveness which is a measure of the Quality of performance; Efficiency which is a measure of the level of output for a given level of input; and Economy which is a measure of outputs produced at least cost”. Focusing on the first two types, 30 Key Performance Indicators, KPIs, are highlighted.

On the Targets, the SMART- Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time bound approach is utilized. The challenge, though, was the absence of baseline information in a number of the measures and also the difficulty in visualizing what should constitute success. As a result, the set targets were for only those areas where NGF are already active.