The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Akume, has revealed that inconsistency and lack of coherence are some of the major problems hindering effective policy management in Nigeria, stating that fragmentation in government institutions slows down the country’s progress.
Senator Akume made this disclosure while speaking at the validation session for the Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework, which took place in Abuja on Tuesday.
Senator Akume stated that duplication and inconsistency of policies and regulations across ministries, departments and agencies had generated inadequacies, making it tough to attain critical governance goals.
He said, “Over the years, one of the recurring challenges of policy management in Nigeria has been the lack of coherence and consistency. This has led to inefficiencies that hinder the implementation of interventions meant to accelerate national progress”.
Senator Akume emphasised that in a bid to tackle these issues, the Tinubu-led administration is initiating a structured and institutionalised strategy for policy formation, implementation and execution.
He said, “Policymaking is not a theoretical exercise; it is a practical governance tool. It must not only define priorities but also provide clear implementation pathways, assign institutional responsibilities, and establish mechanisms for tracking impact”
The SGF, Senator George Akume, also stressed that effective governance depends on coordinated strategy, organisational alignment and policy coherence. He added that the Office Of The SGF was dedicated to ensuring that national policies are well thought out.
According to Senator Akume, the validation session aims to strengthen the framework, ensuring policies are informed by data, aligned with national priorities and responsive to the country’s dynamic needs. He encouraged stakeholders and policymakers to be involved in the process.
He said, “As we define this framework, we move closer to institutionalising a governance culture where policies seamlessly translate to tangible outcomes for all Nigerians.”
The Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination/Head, Central Results Delivery and Coordination Unit, Hadiza Bala Usman, also present at the validation session, stated that the Tinubu-led administration was actively tackling deep-rooted gaps within the policy system.
She said, ” The development of this framework was driven by a clear and pressing need. A review of Nigeria’s existing policy landscape revealed significant gaps- inconsistencies in policy structure, policy overlaps, limited coordination, and challenges in implementation and monitoring.”
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“These challenges often undermine the effectiveness of otherwise well-intentioned policies and hinder the achievement of national goals. This framework is therefore our collective response: a tool designed to address these gaps, clarify roles and processes and provide a more coherent, streamlined and effective approach to policymaking”
