By OLAKUNLE ELATUYI
Economic reforms may impress on paper, but citizens judge them at the market, in the workplace, and through public services. For the Tinubu administration, the test of subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms, tax changes, and fiscal adjustments is whether they make life more affordable, create jobs, and improve services amid insecurity and cost-of-living pressures. As reforms advance, debates over resource control, revenue sharing, Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, and the proposed constitutional reform to establish state police will require fairness, national consensus, clear federal-state responsibilities, and safeguards against political or partisan abuse.
The fiscal opportunity is clear. At its 15 July 2026 meeting, FAAC shared N2.551 trillion in June revenue: N838.208 billion to states, N591.390 billion to local councils, and N197.610 billion in derivation revenue to oil-producing states. These allocations expand sub-national capacity but also heighten the need for transparent budgets, measurable results, and public accountability. Because states and local governments oversee many frontline services, strengthening their capacity is as urgent as federal reform. Expected outcomes will follow only when sub-national governments align implementation, priorities, and performance standards with national objectives while retaining their constitutional responsibilities.
Why strong institutions matter
Sound policy is only a starting point. Lasting reform depends on institutions with clear mandates, professional capacity, reliable data, effective coordination, transparent oversight, and respect for the rule of law. International examples offer lessons. Canada’s results reporting, Rwanda’s performance contracts, Estonia’s digital government, and Singapore’s professional public service show that reforms work best when delivery is clear, measurable, and trusted.
The rule of law must remain the foundation of reform. Laws should apply equally to citizens and public officials, courts must be independent and efficient, and government must respect due process and enforce judicial decisions. Predictable regulation, faster dispute resolution, and reliable contract enforcement help citizens, businesses, and investors act with confidence.
Turning reform into results
Policy sets direction; institutions provide continuity. They turn priorities into programmes, manage resources, coordinate across government, correct inefficiencies, and preserve effective initiatives beyond political cycles. Nigeria already has useful foundations. The Treasury Single Account, Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, and Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System show how digital controls can improve cash visibility and payroll integrity while reducing leakages when backed by compliance and audits.
Procurement reform offers another lesson. The Bureau of Public Procurement and the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal have expanded disclosure, competition, and oversight. Further progress requires better data, stronger compliance, and more consistent delivery.
Concerns about the accuracy and transparency of some budget entries underline the need for stronger verification, timely audits, legislative oversight, and early warning systems before funds are approved and released.
Merit-based institutional leadership
Institutional performance is shaped by the quality of leadership appointments. Ministries, agencies, regulators, boards, and reform units need leaders with relevant expertise, sound judgment, integrity, and a commitment to public service. Nigeria offers strong examples of expertise matched with public responsibility. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala advanced fiscal management, transparency, and debt relief; Oby Ezekwesili helped drive procurement and transparency reforms; and Akinwumi Adesina used an electronic wallet system to widen farmers’ access to subsidised inputs and reduce corruption in fertiliser distribution. Their records show how capable leadership, clear mandates, and institutional support can deliver tangible results.
Appointments should follow transparent criteria, relevant experience, and defined responsibilities rather than personal or political considerations. Leaders need measurable mandates, conflict-of-interest safeguards, and accountability for conduct and outcomes. Durable institutions depend less on celebrated individuals than on systems that select competent people and sustain performance through transitions.
Six priorities for stronger institutions and better delivery
The next phase should focus on practical measures that improve execution, transparency, and public confidence.
Strengthen leadership and institutional capacity: appoint competent and ethical leaders transparently, set clear mandates, build civil-service skills and continuity, and equip regulators and delivery agencies with reliable data, tools, and authority.
Deepen fiscal transparency and digital delivery: expand digital budgeting, procurement, reporting, and citizen services, while publishing state and local dashboards showing budgets, targets, timelines, and results. Strengthen the rule of law and institutional safeguards: protect judicial independence, uphold due process, enforce court decisions, clarify institutional responsibilities, and strengthen independent oversight against political interference and abuse of authority. Make accountability citizen-centred: establish clear service standards, accessible complaint channels, response timelines, and systems that allow citizens to provide feedback and track progress. Measure institutional and state performance: conduct annual reviews, publish indicators on services, infrastructure, healthcare, education, investment, and jobs, and use independent assessment and comparable state data to encourage learning and competition.
Mobilise wider expertise: engage diaspora professionals through advisory councils, fixed-term technical roles, sector task forces, competitive recruitment, board appointments, and a skills registry aligned with reform priorities.
From public trust to shared prosperity
Reforms matter when citizens see better infrastructure, electricity, healthcare, education, security, jobs, and everyday services.
Nigeria’s reform agenda is more than economic adjustment; it is an opportunity to strengthen governance and delivery. Its value will depend on productive jobs, higher living standards, dependable services, and renewed trust. Nigeria has the ideas, talent, and ambition to progress. The task is to build institutions that uphold the rule of law, reward competence, protect public resources, and turn reform into shared prosperity. Economic reforms can change policies, but only strong institutions can change a nation.
•Elatuyi is an internationally trained public administrator and advocate for integrated national and state-level planning and public sector reform.
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