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Article Title:
Medium Term Expenditure Frameworks and Economic Management and Sustainability in Africa: Nigeria in Perspective
by Osirim Monday and Wadike Chile George

Abstract:
A common condition of governance in most Africa countries including Nigeria is a lucid disconnect between policy making and effective planning on one hand and of course budget management systems and processes on the other hand. Medium Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEFs) was introduced in the 1990s and 2000s by most Africa countries to proffer solution to this disconnect. This paper is therefore an endevour to explicate, analyze and assess the anticipated impact of MTEFs in theory and practice as it relates to public financial and economic management in Nigeria. The meet the objective of the study, the survey research design was adopted. Questionnaires were designed and administered to various government officials to elicit their opinions on the implementation of MTEFs and its impact on public financial and economic management. Data from published documents, government reports and press statements were also used to corroborate the analysis. Findings indicated a general weak performance of the medium term expenditure frameworks (MTEFs). Its recent introduction, weak budget formulation as well as implementation may be responsible for this outcome. The study therefore concludes that medium term expenditure frameworks have not improved revenue mobilization, fiscal responsibility and accountability as well as sustainable debt management in Nigeria. On the basis of the result, it was thus recommended that MTEFs as potential value added public expenditure management (PEM) toolkits, should as a matter of urgency be re-crafted and redirected for effectiveness. Furthermore, it should be integrated into the budget preparation and management process from the outset and its forecast should be incorporated in the budget document.

Keywords: Strategic Paper; Economic Management; Medium-Term; Public Financial Management, Public Sector Organisations.

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