The Federal Government has confirmed that it donated N1.15 billion worth of security vehicles to Niger Republic by the Federal Government.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, said the donation was made in the spirit of African brotherliness and being your brother’s keeper.

She said: “Over time, Nigeria has had to support its immediate neighbours to enhance their capacity to secure their countries as it relates to us. This is not the first time that Nigeria is supporting Niger, Cameroun or Chad.

“The president makes an assessment as to what is required based on the request of their president, as such, the requests are approved and the interventions are provided, to enhance their capacity to protect their own territory as it relates to security also in Nigeria.”

Also addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, Ahmed revealed that the Federal Executive Council approved a new policy for the institutionalisation of the practice of monitoring and evaluation in Nigeria.

According to her, the programme is to be known as the National Monitoring and Evaluation Policy.

FCT gets N2.6bn to procure security vehicles, gadgets

He added that the programme would go a long way to help improve the wellbeing of citizens and socio-economic development of the country

She said: “Today, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning presented a policy memo to Council and the memo is on the National Monitoring and Evaluation policy for the country.

“The policy defines a framework for the institutionalisation of the practice of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) to promote good governance, learning and accountability for results that will contribute to improve socio-economic development of the country and enhance the well-being of citizens.

“The policy clarifies how M&E should be conducted in the country; specify the position, institutional and financial arrangements and the modalities for feedback, especially from citizens so that decision makers can make effective use of evidence by government and stakeholders to inform policy strategies and investment.”

The minister added that the approved policy was developed in close collaboration with States of the Federation, development partners, academia and several experts as well as associations of monitoring and evaluation in Nigeria.

The Star