Cross River Governor creates Performance Clusters for Parastatals

The Governor of Cross River State in southern Nigeria, Bassey Otu has created 10 performance clusters for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to enhance synergy and speedy impact results of government programmes.

Governor Otu, who made the announcement during the first Cross River Executive Council Meeting for 2024 in Calabar, the State capital, also announced the adoption of the 2008 economic blueprint developed by the Senator Liyel Imoke’s administration through H.Pierson, a multi-disciplinary strategy and planning consulting firm.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche indicated that Governor Otu tasked his commissioners and special advisers to justify their appointments through optimal performance in their assigned portfolios.

According to Ogbeche, Governor Otu charged the commissioners and special advisers to effectively liaise with the permanent secretaries in their different MDAs for synergy and effective implementation of government policies and programmes that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

Action Planning Team

Otu, who stressed the significance of the collective responsibility of all to fulfill his People First agenda, noted that to effectively implement the economic blueprint, there was need to set up an Action Planning Team made up of those trained by the consulting firm, H.Pierson,  to drive his development agenda and reposition Cross River State towards the path of growth.

Otu recalled, “The firm instituted some key value addition mechanisms in governance, using 4 (four) effective approaches, which were: Action Planning, Cluster Model, Performance Management as well as Projects/Programmes Monitoring and Evaluation.

“Fortunately for the administration, there is still a sizable pool of personnel trained by H. Pierson, who can be brought together to drive the Strategy and Action Planning in the exact form proposed, approved and implemented by H. Pierson at a minimal cost to Cross River State Government.

“These personnel have been identified and I seek to constitute them into an Action Planning Team that will be the central coordinating and facilitating group in the development of sound, impactful and well-coordinated approach to full Action Plans, Strategy, Performance Management as well as Project/Programmes monitoring and evaluation templates,” Governor Otu further disclosed.

The Ten Clusters

The CPS indicated that Governor Otu said, “10 sectoral clusters have been identified through which all MDAs shall be grouped to collaborate in developing their Action Plans for speedy and impactful results. This approach is highly necessary to ensure that cluster members learn from each other, utilize their time and energy in place of inactivity and unproductive pursuits. Above all, benefit from the expected policy and project peer review which emanates therefrom.

“Every MDA is expected to draw up a proper Action Plan indicating goals, activities and timelines through a series of periodic meetings with its management. At Cluster meetings, comprising several MDA’s, these will be strengthened through collaborative scrutiny until perfection is attained. 

“Thereafter, clusters will be meeting periodically as well, where every MDA will be expected to report on its achievements to the hearing of all. At the end of every quarter, performance evaluation will be carried out and a ranking order made public,” the Governor was quoted as stating.

The clusters include Performance Management Clusters; Environment Cluster; Finance Cluster; Social Cluster; Agric Cluster; Infrastructure Cluster; Governance and General Administration Cluster; Tourism Cluster; Education Cluster and Health Cluster

Meanwhile, the governor urged the executive council to prepare for investors from Switzerland and other western countries following his participation at the just concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“The Swiss-owned firm, De Medical AG will come to establish an ultra-modern health centre in Calabar and a drone manufacturing plant in Tinapa as well as a 5, 000 hectare modern technology precision farming and data driven crop management by Netiol Incorporated.” He added.