Governance Deficits Undermine Nigeria's Development, Says Prof.

On Wednesday, during the 41st inaugural lecture series at the Federal University Lokoja, Prof. Ebenez Ejalonibu Lawal attributed Nigeria's developmental challenges to poor governance and weak institutional frameworks rather than a lack of policy ideas. He noted that despite numerous development plans, Nigeria remains underdeveloped across key sectors due to inadequate governance, poorly conceived policies, and uneven enforcement.

Prof. Lawal highlighted the limitations of institutional autonomy and stressed the importance of public regulatory institutions, including anti-corruption agencies. He warned that without genuine autonomy and legal protections, promises of institutional reform would remain unfulfilled.

He criticized the persistent underfunding of critical social sectors such as education and healthcare, which he described as foundational for sustainable development. Prof. Lawal called for a recalibration of Nigeria's development approach, emphasizing the need to strengthen institutional structures and functions to promote accountability and transparency.

He concluded that sustainable progress requires a shift away from patronage-based politics.