By Bamidele Atoyebi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is widely recognized for implementing bold and transformative policies aimed at national development.

This was one of the reasons I wholeheartedly supported his 2023 presidential campaign, even before meeting him in person. Looking back at history, Tinubu, alongside other state governors in 2003, spearheaded the creation of additional local governments, a move that was later abandoned by some due to pressure from then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

That initiative was driven by a sincere commitment to grassroots governance, ensuring that government services reached the people more effectively.

During his tenure as Lagos State governor, Tinubu introduced several groundbreaking reforms, including strengthening citizen engagement in governance, tackling corruption within the civil service, enhancing municipal administration, overhauling payroll systems, and making strategic investments. One such investment was Lagos State’s N9 billion stake in Econet Telecommunications, which later yielded a remarkable N31 billion return for the state.

Since assuming office as President of Nigeria, Tinubu has introduced and championed several policies, including local government autonomy, the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) revolution, the student loan scheme, the consumer credit scheme, highway construction, the defeat of the fuel subsidy cabal, the defeat of the forex subsidy cabal, the degradation of terrorist networks, tax reform bills, the establishment of the Livestock Ministry, solid minerals sector reform, aviation sector reform, international passport processing reform, electricity decentralization reform, the creation of development commissions for the North-West, South-West, and South-East, a 60% increase in Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements, growth in foreign reserves, and the establishment of the National Credit Guarantee Company. These initiatives are laying the foundation for Nigeria’s economic and social transformation. However, one key area that requires urgent attention is the issue of disguised unemployment in government agencies and ministries.

Disguised unemployment refers to situations where employees hold jobs that do not fully utilize their skills or contribute meaningfully to productivity. This issue is prevalent in key government institutions like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). NNPC, as a critical revenue-generating agency, lacks the required number of technical professionals necessary to drive Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to meet the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) standards. Many employees within the organization occupy roles that do not align with their expertise, significantly reducing overall efficiency. A comprehensive staffing overhaul is essential to recruit technically skilled professionals who can optimize operations and enhance national revenue.

The Nigeria Police Force is the country’s primary law enforcement agency and plays a crucial role in maintaining security. However, one of the underlying causes of police misconduct, beyond poor remuneration and working conditions, is a lack of passion for the job. Many officers did not originally aspire to join the police force but were forced into it due to a lack of employment opportunities.

This affects their dedication and professionalism. For the police force to truly serve its purpose, the government must improve recruitment processes to attract individuals genuinely interested in law enforcement, reform police training programs to instill professionalism and integrity, enhance welfare packages and career development opportunities, and foster a culture of accountability within the force.

Tinubu’s administration has made commendable strides in economic and infrastructural development. However, addressing the structural inefficiencies in government agencies, particularly NNPC and the police force, will be pivotal in ensuring sustainable national progress.

With the right policies and political will, Nigeria can establish a more efficient governance system that aligns with global best practices.

Bamidele Atoyebi is founder of Tinubu School of Politics and Policy, and founder of Accountability and Policy Monitoring.