The Overall EO1 Performance Results for January – December 2022 report released by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, has placed the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, NCDMD, first out of the 36 ministries, department and agencies, MDA, of the federal government assessed.
“From the 2022 EO1 Compliance Report, the top 5 MDAs achieved an average score of 71.44% on the efficiency and transparency matrix with the overall winner – Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB) achieving a score of 81.11%,” PEBEC said in the report which Realnews sighted on Friday, March 10.
The other performers are Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, Nigerian Export and Import Bank, NEXIM, and Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.
The 2022 EOI Compliance Report showed that Standard Organisation of Nigeria and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which ranked second and third, scored 78.68 percent and 69,13 percent, respectively. Nigerian Export and Import Bank came fourth with 64.59 percent while Corporate Affairs Commission came fifth with 63.68 percent.
According to the report, “MDAs’ EO1 overall performance is a combination of scores on the Efficiency and Transparency measures, weighted at 70% and 30% of the overall score respectively. The EO1 efficiency of MDAs is measured by their compliance with their service delivery timelines and compliance with the Default Approval and One Government directives. The Transparency matrix tracks the existence and functionality of MDA websites, as well as the availability of detailed information on timelines, costs, statutory requirements, and customer service contact channels.”
Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, ranked last (36) with 8.54 percent; Nigeria Police Force placed 35th with 11.6 percent while the Commercial and Trade Department ranked 34 (12.10 percent). The National Broadcasting Commission took 20ieth position scoring 31.22 percent while Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) ranked 10th with 58.72 percent score.
Newsmen reports that the top-performing MDAs differentiate themselves by achieving a balanced performance on both the “Efficiency and Transparency” scales, across the three cross-cutting directives of Transparency, Default Approval and One Government.
The PEBEC was established in July 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari to remove bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria and make the country a progressively easier place to start and grow a business.
The Executive Order 001 (EO1) on the Promotion of Transparency and Efficiency in the Business Environment was issued on May 18, 2017. EO1 gives full executive support for reforms intended to foster an environment that is conducive to business by entrenching policies and practices that encourage transparency and efficiency in public service delivery.
Since June 2017, the PEBEC Secretariat, in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Service Compact (SEVICOM) Office, has trained, tracked and evaluated ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on their compliance with EO1 to date.
The underlining key objectives of the Order are to deepen the impact of completed reforms in the frontline offices that engage with the public; foster collaboration between MDAs in their service delivery and institutionalise systemic change sustainably.
The PEBEC-led efforts to entrench EO1 in the psyche of the Civil Service of the Federation received a major boost with the signing into law of the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 2022 by Buhari on February 8, 2023. The Act is a legislative intervention by the PEBEC which codifies E01, and amends 21 business related laws, to remove bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria.
Over the years, there has been increased awareness of the objectives of the EO1. The key learnings from the EO1 report analysis over the years show that progress is being recorded on the efficiency and transparency directives.
According to the report, “From our assessment, most MDAs now have functional websites while 25 out of the MDAs tracked have adopted an online process for citizen application for services. In the same vein, the Report reveals that specific MDAs continue to deliver consistent performance due to adherence to their SLAs and also in driving a flexible service delivery approach.
MDAs’ EO1 overall performance is a combination of scores on the Efficiency and Transparency measures, weighted at 70% and 30% of the overall score respectively. The EO1 efficiency of MDAs is measured by their compliance with their service delivery timelines and compliance with the Default Approval and One Government directives. The Transparency matrix tracks the existence and functionality of MDA websites, as well as the availability of detailed information on timelines, costs, statutory requirements and customer service contact channels.
The efficiency scale assesses MDAs’ adherence to service level agreements on timelines, costs and procedures, one government directive and default approval. High performing MDAs demonstrate higher levels of adherence to service guidelines and customer satisfaction.
The top performing MDAs differentiate themselves by achieving a balanced performance on both the Efficiency and Transparency scales, across the three cross-cutting directives of Transparency, Default Approval and One Government.
The two sector-specific EO1 directives aimed at enhancing visitors’ experience and trade operations at air and sea ports are the Entry Experience of Travellers and Ports Operations. The compliance of MDAs with these directives is measured through a tour of the facilities, mystery shopping, and citizens’ reports.
Realnews reports that in February NCDMB shattered the records again by emerging “as Level 5 Platinum Level organization” in a summary report of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, BPSR, Self-assessment Tool, SAT. According to the Federal Government Bureau, the rating translates as “Exceptional Performance with a performance level of 90.5%.”