Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has called for fundamental reforms to Nigeria’s systems, institutions and structures, arguing that successive changes in government and policies have failed to bring meaningful improvements to the lives of millions of Nigerians.
Makinde made the call in the September edition of his newsletter, titled The Business of Governance, in which he identified persistent poverty, limited economic opportunities, insecurity and weak institutions among the major challenges facing the country.
The governor argued that Nigeria’s difficulties could not be attributed solely to the individuals occupying public offices at different times.
Instead, he said the country needed to examine and reform the systems responsible for producing outcomes that had failed to adequately meet the needs of the majority of Nigerians.
Makinde cited the controversy surrounding petroleum pricing as an example, saying the national conversation had remained focused largely on whether fuel subsidies should be restored or consumers should bear the full market price.
He argued that the debate should go beyond the subsidy question and address the structure of petroleum pricing itself.
According to the governor, the more fundamental question is whether Nigeria has adopted an appropriate petroleum pricing framework for an oil-producing country.
He maintained that addressing the country’s longstanding challenges would require changes to the systems and institutions that shape economic and social outcomes, rather than relying solely on changes in political leadership or government policies.
