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These is revealed in a document titled, “Transformation Agenda 2011-2015: Summary of Federal Government’s Key Priority Policies, Programmes and Projects,” obtained on Tuesday in Abuja.
“The agenda is based on a set of priority policies and programmes which when implemented will transform the Nigerian economy to meet the future needs of all Nigerian people,” the document notes.
It lists the judiciary and the legislature as parts of the under-performing sectors of governance while the review of the federal allocation is among the macro-economic policy choices listed as requiring attention.
The 36 state governors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, have been campaigning for the review of the federal allocation formula to put more money in the coffers of the states.
In the chapter titled, ‘Governance’, justice and judiciary, legislature and foreign policy and economic diplomacy are listed as sectors requiring priority attention.
On the nation’s justice and judiciary system, the document notes, “The Nigerian judiciary is considered one of the most vibrant, especially in terms of decisions of the higher courts.
“However, Nigeria also ranks among countries with the least efficient systems of enforcing contracts and settlement of commercial disputes.
“Slow police investigations and weak enforcement of judicial decisions contribute to delays in justice delivery.
“Though some measure of success has been made, the judiciary is still faced with several challenges including slow reform process which has generally lagged behind current developments in human rights practices, cybercrimes, terrorism, the prosecution of corruption and financial crimes.”
The document goes ahead to outline the Federal Government’s policy thrust in the justice and judiciary sector from 2011- 2015.
These are, achieving greater independence for the judiciary in terms of funding; improving capacity and efficiency in judicial service delivery; eliminating all forms of corruption in the administration of justice in Nigeria; enhancing the capacity of the justice ministry to superintend prosecution and law enforcement; improving professionalism in legal practice for better service delivery.
Identifying the legislature as a sector in need of an overhaul, the Transformation Agenda document notes that lawmaking in the country has not been satisfactory.
It says, “The performance of the legislature has been relatively less than optimal as evident from its inability to enact enough high impact legislation, and its preference to concentrate on executive oversight functions.
“This has left over 500 bills pending in the National Assembly.
“Also, prolonged delays in passage of bills have tended to slow down the pace of economic growth and development, and eroded public confidence in the ability of the legislature to perform its duties.
“The thrust of policy within this period will be to facilitate the creation of a dynamic, constitutionally effective and public responsive legislature that is proactive in its legislative duties and independent but aware of its constitutional partnership with the executive and judicial arms of government.
“Other policy measures include regular auditing of the activities and publication of annual reports of the national and state legislatures, to promote greater transparency and accountability in the use of public funds; promote greater public interest in the scrutiny of legislative actions, and inform public debate to these ends.”
Under another chapter, titled “Macro-economic framework and economic direction”, the document outlined the government’s “key macro-economic policy choices.”
A review of the revenue sharing formula is mentioned among the choices.
“The key policies to be pursued by government during the period are as follows:
“Ensuring greater harmony between fiscal and monetary policy. In this regard, the National Economic Management Team will be strengthened to facilitate effective coordination of fiscal and monetary policies.
“Pursuit of sound economic policies, including fiscal prudence supported by appropriate monetary policy to contain inflation at single digit.
“The budget process shall be reviewed to provide greater clarity of roles between the executive and the legislature and to ensure that the appropriation bill is passed into law within the first month of any year.
“The direction of policy shall draw inspiration from the US system and concentrate on setting allocation priorities rather than micro-budgeting or contesting figures with the executive.
“The existing revenue allocation formula shall be reviewed to achieve a more balanced fiscal federalism. This is expected to pave the way for more effective implementation of programmes at the sub-national level.
“Institutionalising the culture of development planning at all levels of government and ensuring that the annual capital budget allocations take a cue from the medium and long term development plans.
“Towards this end, the National Assembly should expedite the passage of the Planning and Continuity Bill in order to strengthen the plan-budget link and reduce the high incidence of abandoned projects.”
According to the document, the prioritised policies, programmes and projects in the transformation agenda were properly scrutinised by a Presidential Committee set up for the purpose, with assistance by technical experts drawn from the private and public sectors, and endorsed by the President.
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