By Patrick Obia
Exclusive from episode 163 of “The Dialogue With Agba Jalingo”.
Program prologue
A performance review, appraisal or evaluation is the art of analysing the input, output and efficiency rates of employees, employers, systems, methods and even governments.
It is an ancient art and often touted as the world’s second oldest profession. Scientists claim that the art of appraisal is both inevitable and universal.
There are studies that also claim that he absence of a carefully structured appraisal system forces people to judge performance naturally, arbitrarily and informally.
As a distinct and formal management procedure used in the evaluation of work performance, the history of performance appraisal is quite brief with its roots in the early 20th century traceable to Taylor’s pioneering Time and Motion studies. But, some argue that the same may be said about almost everything in the field of modern human resources management.
The evaluation of performance ranges from a child’s ability to cook, read, write and speak to the turnover of production lines, organisational goals and inherited, selected, elected or appointed public and private administrations.
In public governance, performance reviews are often utilized by the citizenry during campaigns and governance tenures.
Nigeria and Cross River State are not left out. But, like every other sector and system, there are claims that each system has its unique appraisal methods.
For instance while the opposition set an ObamaMeter to score President Barack Obama’s performance based on his campaign promises, the same cannot be said of Nigeria where the performance of public officers is based on the implementation of policies, programs and projects.
However, others argue that in systems such as governance, the performance analysis methods are similar across the globe and only seem to be skewed to a direction that favors those who are in power.
Which is truly the case?
So many methods are used and while political analysts usually claim that performance indicators are subject to a number of indices, activists and pressure groups often score performances based on globally standards.
Which is been practiced more in Cross River?
There are some bars that have been set which include the first 90 days, first 100 days, first 6 months, first year in office and 1,000 days in offices that have at least four year tenures.
Is this a fair method of assessment?
Are performance reviews usually objective?
Governor Ben Ayade has spent 102 days in office since May 29, 2019 and 1,563 days since assuming office for his first tenure in May 29, 2015.
September 6, 2019 made it his second first 100 days in office and there was a lot of conversation on and off air about his performance.
How well has he performed?
What are the indices used in measuring his performance?
When compared to national and global standards, how do these benchmark indices fare?
Should the base ratings remain same for returning public officers?
Are Cross Riverians conscious about performance evaluation?
These and more are the focus of this week’s ‘The Dialogue With Agba Jalingo’ with the topic: “Ayade’s Second 100 Days In Office: How Far, So Far?”
The guests were Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ben Ayade on Media, Emmanuel Ulayi; the Candidate of the Young Progressive Party for the Cross River central senatorial district in the 2019 general elections, Tony Attah and the Convener of Citizens Network, Richard Inoyo.
The program airs on Hit 95.9 FM Calabar Sundays, 6pm to 7pm.
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