Nigeria's Governance Challenge- Bridging The Gap Between Policy And Reality,As Viewed By APGA National Chairman

 Written By Nduka Anyanwu 

Nigeria’s journey toward effective governance, meaningful reform, and accountable leadership is fraught with persistent challenges. 

Despite laudable efforts and international support—such as the World Bank’s State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) program—our nation continues to grapple with systemic issues that undermine development and trust in public institutions.

At the core of these challenges are weakly implemented policies, endemic corruption, and systemic, politicized bottlenecks that hinder progress. While reforms are often announced with fanfare, many remain superficial, serving more as cosmetic changes rather than profound institutional transformations. 

This superficiality prevents the realization of tangible improvements in public service delivery and erodes public confidence in government.

The Reality of Reform Implementation Gaps

Many of Nigeria’s reform initiatives suffer from lack of continuity, weak monitoring mechanisms, and undue political interference. Policies designed to promote transparency and efficiency are frequently undermined by these factors, rendering them ineffective in the long term. 

For instance, programs like SFTAS and SABER have introduced useful tools—such as the use of Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) to combat payroll fraud—that have shown promise. However, their full potential is often hampered by inconsistent enforcement and weak institutional backing.

Anti-Corruption Efforts: A Step Forward, But Not Enough

The fight against corruption, led by agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has yielded some successes in asset recovery and exposing corrupt practices. 

Yet, these efforts are often impeded by legal, jurisdictional, and political hurdles that limit their impact. According to analyses, corruption remains deeply entrenched, with many cases stalling due to systemic weaknesses and lack of political will.

Institutional Weaknesses and Data Deficits

The Nigerian civil service suffers from underfunding, resource shortages, and opaque processes. Critical decision-making often lacks data-driven insights, hampering effective policy formulation and implementation. 

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) highlights these deficiencies, emphasizing that without strengthening institutions and improving transparency, reform efforts will continue to fall short.

A Roadmap for Future Reform

To truly transform Nigeria’s governance landscape, a comprehensive, technology-driven approach is essential. 

Key recommendations include:

Digital Transformation: Leveraging technology to digitize records, procurement processes, and public service delivery can significantly reduce corruption and increase efficiency. As noted by Scilit, digitalization creates transparent, traceable systems that foster accountability.

Strengthening Oversight: Empowering legislative bodies to actively monitor executive actions ensures that policies are implemented effectively and in accordance with the law. Robust oversight acts as a safeguard against abuse of power and resource misallocation, as emphasized by RSIS International.

Civil Society Engagement: Encouraging active citizen participation and fostering transparency heighten public demand for accountability. When citizens are informed and involved, they become watchdogs who hold leaders accountable, as highlighted by the South South Journal.

Capacity Building and Human Capital Development: Investing in human resources within the civil service, providing adequate remuneration, and enhancing skills are critical to reducing corruption and improving service delivery. According to SSRN, these investments cultivate a motivated, competent civil service that upholds integrity.

Conclusion

Nigeria’s path toward transparent, accountable governance is arduous but achievable. It demands a shift from superficial reforms to deep, institutional changes underpinned by technology, strong oversight, and active citizen participation. Only through sustained commitment, political will, and strategic reforms can Nigeria bridge the gap between policy intentions and tangible outcomes—building a future where governance serves as a true instrument of development and trust for all Nigerians.

   Nduka Anyanwu Special Adviser Media To APGA National Chairman