Akume: Inefficiencies in MDAs slowing down policy implementation

George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says President Bola Tinubu is committed to addressing challenges in policy execution across government institutions.

Akume spoke on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ validation session on the ‘Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework’, in Abuja.

The event was organised by Hadiza Bala Usman, special adviser to the president on policy and coordination.

The SGF noted that the current administration recognises that effective governance depends on structured and well-implemented policies.

Akume said the lack of coordination among ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) has been a major hindrance to Nigeria’s policy management and national development.

“Over the years, one of the recurring challenges of policy management in Nigeria has been the lack of coherence and consistency across ministries, departments, and agencies,” he said.

“Fragmentation, duplication, and sublimation have often resulted in inefficiencies, slowing down the implementation of critical interventions that should otherwise accelerate national progress.”

The SGF described the Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework as a crucial step toward ensuring policies are not only well-formulated but also effectively implemented, monitored, and adapted to evolving national needs.

“This Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework is a bold step towards addressing these challenges,” he said.

“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.

“Indeed, policymaking is not a theoretical exercise; it is a practical tool for governance, the mechanism through which governments translate national aspirations into concrete actions.

“A robust policy framework must not only define priorities but also provide planning and implementation pathways, assign institutional responsibilities, and establish mechanisms for tracking impacts.

“This is what distinguishes a well-governed nation from one where policies exist only in name.

”That is why today’s session is crucial — it is an opportunity to define this framework into an instrument that will endure, ensuring that public policy is driven by data, aligned with national goals, and responsive to the dynamic needs of our people.”

Tayo Aduloju, chief executive officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), also spoke at the event, highlighting Nigeria’s history of well-designed but poorly executed policies.

“Seven out of ten policies created between 1990 and today, by our own rough estimation and the NDSG, failed to achieve 100 per cent of their impact,” he said.

“In 90 per cent of the cases, it’s not really bad policy; the problem is bad policy execution.”

Other key stakeholders at the session included Ayo Omotayo, director-general of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS); Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner, represented by William Robinson; and representatives of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas.