Institutional reforms will resolve major policy challenges in Nigeria – Shettima

By Kunle Sanni

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that strengthening Nigeria’s institutional frameworks is crucial to resolving the country’s persistent bureaucratic and policy issues, noting that such reforms could address up to 80 percent of the nation’s governance challenges.

Speaking on Monday in Abuja during the official presentation of the draft National Public Policy Development and Management Framework, the Vice President described the initiative as a long-overdue step toward building a more efficient, coordinated, and accountable public service.

“If we get our institutional frameworks right, we will solve 80% of our public policy challenges,” Shettima said. “This approach is long overdue.”

The policy draft was presented by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery and Coordination Unit (CDCU), Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman.

Shettima emphasized the need for a national reset in how public policies are conceived, communicated, and implemented. He underscored the importance of a clear framework, real-time monitoring, and consequences for non-performance, stating:

“There must be targets and deliverables. If people fail to perform, they should be made to pay the price. Implementation without accountability is another word for lunacy.”

Praising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, Shettima said the president’s understanding of both the public and private sectors has enabled him to drive meaningful reform.

“For the first time, we have a leader who understands the dynamics and speaks the language of economics,” he said. “He has the courage to take far-reaching decisions.”