Jane Salihu
The Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) and The Electoral Hub have called on the Federal Government to move Nigeria’s reform agenda beyond policy announcements and commitments to measurable results that directly improve citizens’ lives.
The organisations made the call in an Independence Day statement signed by the Director of The Electoral Hub, Princess Abijah Hamman-Obels, as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary.
They said the real test of Nigeria’s reforms should not be the number of policies adopted, but whether such reforms are strengthening institutions, improving public services, expanding economic opportunities and making citizens safer and more included in governance.
The organisations said while the Federal Government’s theme, “From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity,” recognises the importance of reforms, economic measures alone cannot guarantee stability without effective institutions, accountability, social protection and the rule of law.
They identified reliable electricity, good roads, accessible healthcare and education, potable water, decent employment and improved security as some of the basic conditions Nigerians expect to see as evidence of meaningful development.
According to the groups, Nigeria has adopted several policies, laws and international commitments aimed at strengthening governance, protecting rights and expanding civic participation, but implementation remains a major challenge.
They cited Nigeria’s participation in the Open Government Partnership as an example, noting that the fourth National Action Plan, which was completed in February 2025, was still awaiting presidential assent as of September 30, 2026.
The organisations argued that reforms cannot produce stability and prosperity when they remain at the level of commitments, stressing the need for clear institutional responsibility, adequate funding, timelines, monitoring and public accountability.
They urged the Presidency and Federal Executive to prioritise the implementation of approved reforms, while calling on the National Assembly to strengthen oversight by tracking the enforcement of laws and scrutinising public spending.
The groups also called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies to make reform implementation measurable and citizen-focused, with clearly defined delivery plans, budgets, timelines and expected outcomes.
They urged state and local governments to translate national reforms into improved services at the community level and called on security and justice institutions to strengthen safety, access to justice and respect for human rights.
IRIAD and The Electoral Hub further tasked civil society and the media with monitoring reforms from promise to performance, while urging citizens to remain informed, participate in governance and demand accountability from public institutions.
The organisations said Nigeria’s 66th year of independence should therefore be an opportunity to measure progress by what citizens experience in their daily lives rather than by government promises alone.
They called for a shift “from reforms to results, from commitments to implementation, and from renewed hope to shared prosperity,” stressing that independence would have greater meaning when Nigerians can experience dignity, security and opportunity in their everyday lives.
They wished Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Anniversary.
