Cost of Governance in Nigeria: Time to Restructure for Accountability and Efficiency
Nigeria is a nation blessed with resources, talent, and resilience. Yet, it continues to grapple with some of the most basic challenges of nationhood — poor infrastructure, underfunded education, a fragile health sector, and persistent insecurity. One of the least talked-about yet deeply entrenched causes of these problems is the high cost of governance.
At the heart of Nigeria’s governance dilemma lies a political system weighed down by excess. From overstaffed public offices and inflated salaries to the endless retinue of aides and needless duplication of roles across three tiers of government, the Nigerian state has perfected the art of sustaining its elite at the expense of the masses.
Nigeria reportedly spends over 70% of its annual budget on recurrent expenditure — mostly salaries, allowances, and overheads for public officials. This leaves little room for capital projects that could truly transform the lives of ordinary citizens. In contrast, many countries with fewer natural resources manage to invest more in infrastructure, innovation, and social welfare.
According to a 2024 report by BudgIT, a civic-tech organization that tracks government spending, Nigeria’s National Assembly, with 469 lawmakers received over N N344 billion in budget allocations. This is in a country where over 60% of the population lives below the poverty line, and basic social amenities are in short supply. Even worse, many of these lawmakers perform poorly in terms of legislative productivity and constituency development.
In addition to elected officials, successive administrations at federal and state levels continue to create unnecessary political offices. Governors now maintain long lists of special advisers, senior special assistants, and even personal photographers and social media handlers, all on public payroll. This is replicated across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, creating a bloated and inefficient system.
This wasteful system is not a fluke, it is a deliberate political strategy. The politics of patronage thrives in Nigeria. Appointments are often used to reward loyalty rather than competence. This ensures that politicians maintain a strong grip on power, but it also guarantees the continuous erosion of public trust.
In many cases, political appointments are made not to strengthen governance but to satisfy ethnic, regional, or partisan interests. This leads to overlapping functions and lack of clear accountability. Ministries and parastatals with similar mandates jostle for influence, while the people they are meant to serve are left in the lurch.
The call for restructuring in Nigeria is not new, but it is often misunderstood or dismissed as a regional agenda. However, at its core, restructuring is about efficiency, responsibility, and results. It is about rethinking the structure and function of government to better serve the Nigerian people.
A restructured Nigeria would reduce the financial burden on the federal government by devolving more powers and responsibilities to states and local governments. But this must come with strict frameworks for transparency and performance. It would also involve merging redundant agencies, cutting down the size of legislatures, and enforcing salary and allowance caps for public officials.
Countries like Rwanda and Ethiopia have demonstrated that lean governments with focused priorities can drive rapid development. Nigeria must take a cue from this and stop feeding an elite class that offers little in return.
Reforming the cost of governance in Nigeria will require more than media outrage. It demands political will, constitutional review, and active civic engagement. Key steps include:
A Comprehensive Audit of Government Agencies: The Oronsaye Report, submitted in 2012, recommended the merger and scrapping of several federal agencies to reduce duplication and waste. Over a decade later, it remains largely unimplemented. It’s time to act on it.
Constitutional Amendments: The 1999 Constitution entrenches a top-heavy federal system. It must be amended to reduce the number of legislative seats, reform revenue allocation, and devolve more power to the grassroots.
Public Sector Reforms: Introduce performance-based evaluations, eliminate ghost workers, and digitize payroll systems across government institutions.
Civic Engagement and Pressure: Citizens must demand accountability from their representatives. Civil society, the media, and grassroots movements must keep the pressure on for leaner governance.
Leadership by Example: The President, Governors, and National Assembly leaders must lead the charge by cutting their own expenses and resisting the temptation to reward political loyalty with public money.
Nigeria stands at a defining moment. With a growing population, a shrinking economy, and rising youth frustration, the country cannot afford to keep doing business as usual. The high cost of governance is a budgetary concern. It questions our values as a nation and challenges our vision for the future.
If Nigeria is to realize its full potential, it must confront this challenge head-on. Restructuring the machinery of government for accountability, efficiency, and true service delivery is not optional — it is essential. It is time to shift from feeding the political class to serving the people.
