Environment
… Inaugurate Quality Assurance and Expert Review Panel
THE Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) and the Federal Ministry of Environment have begun preparations for the third Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking.
The organisations inaugurated a Quality Assurance and Expert Review Panel and convened Climate Desk Officers and State Directors from the 36 states for separate engagements.
The ranking, conceived in 2024, aims to address gaps in climate governance at the subnational level and strengthen accountability among states.
According to SPP, the initiative provides a credible framework for measuring and comparing climate governance performance across states.
It said the exercise also supports development partners in aligning funding with governance readiness and promotes peer learning among states.
Mr. Timothy Ogenyi, SCGPRR Technical Project Lead and Senior Policy Analyst at SPP, presented the refined methodology and scoring framework for the third edition.
He said the updated framework incorporated lessons from previous editions, with stronger emphasis on implementation and measurable climate outcomes.
Mr. Nnaemeka Oruh, Senior Policy Analyst at SPP, said the ranking would assess states across governance structures, policies, project implementation, climate finance and online visibility.
Oruh said the expanded scoring system prioritised implementation rather than policy formulation alone.
“So, it is not just about having policies without implementation. We will interrogate projects to ensure they address specific climate challenges,” he said.
Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, President of SPP, represented by Mr. Gboyega Olorunfemi, appreciated the review panel members for supporting previous editions.
He expressed confidence in their capacity to ensure credibility and integrity in the current ranking exercise.
Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director of Climate Change at the Federal Ministry of Environment, described the ranking as a critical tool for evaluating climate governance across states.
Abiola-Awe said the review panel was selected based on technical expertise, independence and commitment to evidence-based assessment.
She added that the panel’s work would strengthen confidence in the ranking process and improve stakeholder trust.
Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Chairman of the Expert Review Panel, commended members for volunteering their expertise toward advancing climate governance in Nigeria.
The panel includes representatives from WASCAL, Women Environment Programme, Centre for 21st Century Issues, NRGI and other climate-focused institutions.
In another engagement, SPP and the ministry met Climate Desk Officers and State Directors to orient participants on data collection procedures.
Okereke said the ranking had evolved into a delivery programme focused on accountability, capacity building and political commitment.
He described state officers as the “engine” behind the ranking process, stressing the importance of accurate and quality data submissions.
Abiola-Awe urged states to view the ranking as a strategic governance tool rather than a competition.
Discussions at the meeting focused on teamwork, evidence-based reporting and inter-ministerial collaboration in preparing submissions.
Participants also discussed timelines, with questionnaires expected to go live in late May and data collection concluding by June.
SPP and the ministry said the ranking report is scheduled for launch in September 2026.
F.O
Tags: Climate Governance ranking SPP