The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s policy architecture to ensure more effective governance, with a focus on coordination, accountability and impact.
Speaking at the validation session of the Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework in Abuja on Tuesday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, described the event as a crucial step in institutionalizing structured and efficient policymaking.
“This gathering is not merely another meeting in the annals of policy discourse, but a defining moment in our collective pursuit of a more structured, efficient, and responsive governance architecture,” Akume said.
The validation session, a collaborative effort between the Office of the SGF, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, and the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), aims to refine a framework that will guide the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of policies across government institutions.
Akume noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring policies serve as catalysts for national development, emphasizing that “a well-articulated, structured, and inclusive approach to policy management is fundamental to achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
One of the major challenges Nigeria has faced in policy management, he said, is the lack of coherence and consistency across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), leading to inefficiencies and delays in implementation.
The new framework seeks to address these gaps by providing clear guidelines on policy formulation, assigning institutional responsibilities, and establishing mechanisms for tracking impact.
“This Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework is a bold step toward addressing these challenges. It offers a systematic approach to policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation—one that is informed by international best practices, yet deeply rooted in the Nigerian context,” the SGF stated.
He stressed that policymaking should not be a theoretical exercise but a practical tool for governance, adding that “a well-defined policy framework ensures that government interventions are streamlined, resources are optimally deployed, and national priorities remain at the core of decision-making.”
The Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, emphasized the importance of structured policymaking in national development.
“The administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains unwavering in its commitment to strengthening institutional frameworks and positioning public policy as a driving force for national development,” she stated.
She highlighted the key gaps that the new framework seeks to address, including policy inconsistency, inadequate clarity around formulation and implementation, and the absence of unified standards across government institutions.
“The Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework provides much-needed clarity, structure, and coherence, enabling policies to be developed with intent, implemented with discipline, and evaluated for real impact,” Bala Usman said.
She described the validation session as a milestone in institutionalizing a governance culture that is adaptive, coordinated, and transformative, adding that “achieving sustainable national development requires not only bold ideas but also the frameworks to translate those ideas into action.”
The Special Adviser further stressed the importance of broad stakeholder engagement in the policy development process, noting that “effective policies cannot be designed or implemented in isolation.”
“They must be rooted in the collective experience, insight, and wisdom of all relevant actors—government institutions at all levels, civil society organizations, development partners, the private sector, community leaders, and technical experts,” she added.
According to her, a review of Nigeria’s existing policy landscape revealed significant gaps, including inconsistencies in policy structure, overlaps, limited coordination, and challenges in implementation and monitoring.
The new framework, she said, is a direct response to these challenges, providing a tool to enhance policy coherence and effectiveness.
“As we gather to validate this document, I encourage us all to view it not as a mere compilation of procedures or technical standards, but as a bold step toward transforming the way we govern,” she urged.
She also emphasized the need for synergy across institutions to reduce duplication of efforts and foster accountability in government programs and services.
Bala Usman, however, called for full participation in the validation process, stating that “the true measure of a policy lies not only in how well it is written but in how effectively it is implemented and the impact it has on the lives of citizens.”
Also speaking, the Director-General of the NIPSS, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, while delivering his remarks, emphasised the importance of standardizing policy-making in Nigeria, pointing out the need for a central coordinating unit to avoid policy overlaps and ensure coherence.
He highlighted the efforts of the NIPSS in pushing for a scientific and professionalized policy-making process, revealing that the institute plans to introduce a certification process for policy makers to ensure expertise across sectors.
The goal, according to him, is to align policies with national interests and prevent contradictions, as directed by President Bola Tinubu.
The event had senior government officials and development partners in attendance.
