The Enugu State Economic Planning Commission has organised a capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening Planning, Research, and Statistics (PRS) officers across the 17 local government areas of the state.
Speaking during the two-day training workshop ON ADVANCED EXCEL, BUDGET CODING CLASSIFICATION, AND PERFORMANCE REPORTING with the theme, “EMPOWERING, PLANNING OFFICERS WITH TOOLS FOR ACCURACY, TRANSPARENCY, AND IMPACT” the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Nnanyelugo Dan Onyishi, disclosed that the training was designed to improve public expenditure management and enhance project delivery at the grassroots level.
The Executive Secretary said the initiative is designed to modernize public expenditure management and ensure that the state’s ongoing reform agenda is felt at the local level.
According to Onyishi, the workshop followed an earlier engagement with heads of PRS departments to assess their operational challenges and capacity gaps.
He explained that the needs assessment revealed critical issues, including inadequate equipment, weak institutional structures, and limited ICT capacity.
He noted that a scoping mission conducted by the Commission identified key areas requiring intervention to boost productivity and efficiency. “We discovered that many PRS departments lack the necessary tools and technical capacity to effectively carry out their responsibilities,” he said.
The Executive Secretary stressed that improving ICT infrastructure and skills was central to the reform process, adding that efforts were being made to secure funding support from local government chairmen for the procurement of essential equipment.
Onyishi expressed optimism that participants would not only gain technical knowledge but also develop the commitment needed to drive reforms at the local government level. He added that post-training monitoring would be conducted to evaluate improvements in performance.
“The objective is clear: to improve public expenditure management and ensure better delivery of projects and programmes across all local governments,” he said.
According to him, participants are expected to leave the workshop with enhanced ICT skills and a renewed commitment to align with the state’s reform agenda, ultimately improving productivity and service delivery at the grassroots.
On her part, the Head of Department, Local Government Coordination, Enugu State Economic Planning Commission, Nonyelum Nwodo, urged Planning officers across local government areas to adopt efficient data management and reporting practices to enhance evidence-based decision-making and improve service delivery at the grassroots.
Nwodo emphasized that accurate, timely, and well-structured data remains critical to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of government programmes.
She noted that planning officers serve as key drivers in the collection, analysis, documentation, and dissemination of development data within their respective local governments.
According to her, poor data management undermines policy formulation and can lead to misallocation of resources.
She stressed the need for officers to ensure consistency, reliability, and integrity of data, adding that adherence to standardized reporting frameworks is essential for tracking development outcomes.
The department head further highlighted that planning officers are responsible for coordinating data from various departments, harmonizing such information, and preparing periodic reports that reflect the performance of government projects and programmes.
She also underscored the importance of leveraging digital tools and modern data systems to improve accuracy and accessibility, urging officers to embrace technology-driven approaches in their daily operations.
Nwodo pointed out that effective reporting not only enhances transparency and accountability but also supports monitoring and evaluation processes, which are vital for measuring progress and identifying gaps in implementation.
Participants at the workshop were encouraged to build their capacity in data analysis and interpretation, as well as develop strong documentation skills to ensure that reports are clear, concise, and useful for policymakers.
In a presentation on “Preparing Budget Performance Reports” the Head of Department, Donor Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation, Henrietta Nzekwe underscored the critical role of budget performance reporting in tracking government spending, measuring development outcomes, and ensuring value for money in public projects.
She explained that effective reports serve as essential tools for decision-making, policy adjustment, and public accountability.
According to her, budget performance reports provide a systematic comparison between approved budgets and actual expenditures, enabling authorities to identify gaps, inefficiencies, and areas requiring urgent intervention. She noted that such reports also enhance transparency and build public trust in governance.
Nzekwe outlined key components of a standard budget performance report, including revenue performance analysis, expenditure breakdown, variance analysis, and project implementation status. She stressed the importance of accuracy, timeliness, and clarity in data presentation, urging officers to adopt standardized reporting formats.
She further highlighted the need for strong data collection and monitoring mechanisms at the local government level, emphasizing that poor data quality undermines effective planning and evaluation. Participants were encouraged to leverage digital tools and adopt best practices in monitoring and evaluation to improve reporting outcomes.
The resource person also addressed common challenges faced by local government officers, such as inadequate capacity, inconsistent data, and weak coordination among departments.
She called for continuous training and institutional support to bridge these gaps.
Participants at the workshop described the training as timely, noting that it would enhance their ability to prepare comprehensive and credible reports that align with state and national development goals.
The workshop formed part of ongoing efforts by the Enugu State Economic Planning Commission to strengthen institutional capacity at the local government level and promote a culture of data-driven governance.
