MOTIVATION AND EVALUATION AS TOOLS FOR ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION PROJECTS

ABSTRACT

The research centred on “Monitoring and Evaluation as Tools for Achieving Success in the Performance of Government Intervention Projects”.   (A Regional Survey).   The study is empirical in nature and involves the use of both primary and secondary data for the development of the study. The major problems associated with the study include; project abandonment, which results to poor economic growth rate, low income  per  capita  etc.  Some  of the  objectives  of the  study include; identification of the importance of monitoring and evaluation and establishment of the consequences of poor monitoring of government intervention projects. Chi-square, percentages and tables were used in the analysis of the data collected for the study.  The researcher explained the importance of monitoring and evaluation as a way of achieving success in the performance of government intervention projects. The researcher also discussed the effects of poor monitoring and evaluation and how they can result to project abandonment. Some suggestions were made as solutions to poor monitoring and evaluation of government intervention projects which include sticking to project timetable and proper costing of the project. Some findings were made based on the analysis of the data collected. The researcher recommended that project planners should carry out adequate monitoring and evaluation in executing any government intervention projects.  Other recommendations include; appointment of a well-experienced and highly skilled independent project manager to carryout a project work.

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

A well-thought and effectively executed project to a large extent contributes to national development. For a project to be implemented and objective of it realized, a thorough monitoring and evaluation of its has to be  carried  out.  Any government  intervention project  embarked  upon without adequate monitoring and evaluation is just like flogging a dead horse as the project is going to be abandoned at last.

So before a project is embarked upon, adequate monitoring and evaluation should be carried out to ensure success in the performance of government intervention projects.  In effect, therefore, project evaluation and monitoring could operate in an interacting manner to ensure that plans, goals or objectives are attained.   Since monitoring is primarily concerned with accessing the progress achieved in implementing an objective or programme efficiently and effectively, the executors of the project through the monitoring and evaluation process can control what is going on and accordingly take timely action to resolve possible

problems by adjusting the original plan of action monitoring and evaluation cannot be over stated against the background of the numerous cases  of government-abandoned  projects  in developing countries like Nigeria. Many projects in Nigeria whose viability and feasibility were ascertained got stalled due mainly to shoddy monitoring and evaluation on the part of executors who either lacked effective project monitoring and evaluation skills or that the promoters of such projects failed to heed the relevant reports of the executive project failed to heed the relevant reports of the executors at the appropriate time until it was too late.

Monitoring and evaluation are so closely related that they are most often used interchangeably. However, a distinction should be made between the two concepts. Whereas monitoring and evaluation examines set out indicators of progress such as financial statements, and compares expenditure with actual budgets to assess conformity with established work plan, evaluation is concerned with determining the effectiveness and impact of the  programme output.   The evaluator whether internal or external to the programme team ask questions on what is

being done, why and how well. he goes further to find out whether the objective being pursued as previously planed is still relevant in the face of certain unforeseen factors that occurred between the time the programme was formulated and the time the implementation process is going on. The evaluator could carry out the exercise of evaluating during the programme implementation to analyze the impact of the programme to the economy and provide a basis for decision-making with regard to future phases of the   project   implementation   process.      Inadequate   monitoring   and evaluation will lead to project abandonment. Project abandonment will result to colossal waste of scarce resources, poor economic growth rates, and low income per capital, political instability, technological backdrop and the failure syndrome. It is in the light of the above that the researcher has decided to write on the monitoring and evaluation as tools for achieving success in the performance of government intervention projects with particular reference to South-Easter region of Nigeria.

1.2STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Statistics that had been carried out over years in Nigeria showed that two-third of government intervention projects could not survive due to poor or inadequate monitoring and evaluation.   The inadequate monitoring and evaluation, to a very large extent cause project abandonment. A typical example of federal government project that had been abandoned due to poor or inadequate  monitoring and evaluation, is Ajaokuta Steel Industry located at Ajaokuta in Kogi State. The sitting of the industry is politically motivated. The former president of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari  sited the industry there simply to compensate the then National Chairman of Party of Nigeria (NPN). There was no consideration of availability of raw materials, nearness to market, availability of labour and other factors for location of the industry.

There was also no consideration of economic, technological, managerial and other feasibility factors before sitting the industry not to talk of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the project.  So if monitoring and evaluation are not adequately carried out, it becomes a

developmental problem.  That is why up till today Ajaokuta Steel Industry remained  an  abandoned  project.    Other  abandoned  federal  projects include DERRI, NDE, and SAP etc.

These  abandoned  projects  resulted  to  colossal  waste  of  the Nation’s scarce resources, which invariably contributed to poor economic growth rates, low income per capital, technological backdrop and the failure syndrome, which Nigeria is still suffering now. It is also observed that many projects in Nigeria whose viability and feasibility were ascertained got stalled due mainly to shoddy monitoring and evaluation on the part of executors who either lacked effective project monitoring and evaluation skill or that the promoters of such projects failed to heed the relevant reports of the executors at the appropriate time until it was too late. At the state level and in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria, government embarked on certain projects such as Guinea worm eradication in Ebonyi State, Anambra State Vegetable Oil Product in Nachi in Oji River Local Government Area and CCB in Okpara Avenue in Enugu State. Such project could not achieve any reasonable success because of poor or

inadequate monitoring and evaluation.  For example, we still have cases of Guinea worm diseases in Ebonyi State today while Anambra State Vegetable Oil Product in Nachi and CCN in Okpara in Enugu State had been abandoned. All the above problems are not unconnected mainly due to inadequate monitoring and evaluation.

1.3OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this study are:

1.To  identify  the  importance  of  monitoring  and  evaluation  in  the implementation of government intervention projects.

2.To find out whether government monitors and evaluates government intervention projects.

3.To establish the consequences of poor monitoring and evaluation of government intervention projects.

4.To find out if poor or inadequate monitoring and evaluation can cause project abandonment.

5.To proffer solutions to the problems associated with poor or inadequate monitoring and evaluation of government intervention projects.

1.4RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Based on the above objectives, the following research questions have been drawn as a guide for the development of the research work:

1.What are the importance of monitoring and evaluation in the implementation of government intervention projects?

2.Does government monitors and evaluates government intervention projects?

3.What are the likely consequences of poor monitoring and evaluation of government intervention projects?

4.Can poor or inadequate monitoring and evaluation can cause project abandonment?

5.what are the solutions to the problems associated with poor or inadequate monitoring and evaluation of government intervention projects?

1.5HYPOTHESES FORMULATION

The following hypotheses have been formulated to guide our study

Ho:Monitoring and evaluation are  important  in the implementation of government intervention projects.

H1:Monitoring and evaluation are not important in the implementation of government intervention projects.

Ho:Government monitors and evaluates government intervention projects. H1:Government does not monitor and evaluates government intervention

projects.

Ho:There are consequences of poor monitoring and evaluation of government intervention projects.

H1:There  are no consequences  of poor  monitoring and  evaluation of government intervention projects.

Ho:Poor or inadequate monitoring and evaluation can cause project abandonment.

H1:Poor or inadequate monitoring and evaluation cannot cause project abandonment.

Ho:There are solutions to the problems associated with poor or inadequate monitoring and evaluation of government intervention projects.

H1:There are no solutions to the problems associated with poor or inadequate monitoring and evaluation of government intervention projects.

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is significance because it will give an insight on the importance of monitoring and evaluation in the implementation of government intervention projects. The study will also help to find out whether government actually monitors and evaluates her intervention projects.   It will help to find out or establish the consequences of poor inadequate monitoring and evaluation of government implemented projects. The study is significant because it will help to proffer  solutions to the poor or inadequate monitoring and valuation of government intervention projects. The study will help future researchers in the development of their research works that are relevant in this study.

1.7THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is on the “Monitoring and Evaluation as tools for achieving  success   in  the   performance   of  government  intervention projects”.  (A Regional Survey).  The region selected is the South-Eastern region of Nigeria which comprises Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra and Imo States. Mostly Igbos of Eastern Nigeria inhabit these areas.

1.8DEFINITION OF TERMS

!   Evaluation

Evaluation is concern with the effect and impact of a particular project on the beneficiaries.

!   Government

Government is the body of persons or institutions, which make, enforce and interpret laws of any given state or society.

!   Monitoring

Monitoring is a continuous review of an activity, project or programme during its implementation to assess its delivery.

!   Project

A project is a sub-set of a programme.  It can be seen as an undertaken that is done by a group of persons or individuals to achieve a specific objective. It is a group of task to be performed to achieve a specific goal.

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