By Murtala Adogi Mohammed
Since the removal of fuel subsidies in 2023, Nigerian states have seen a significant boost in their monthly allocations—perhaps the most substantial fiscal space available in two decades.
For the first time in years, governors have the resources to take bold action. But with greater resources comes greater responsibility—and scrutiny.
The big question is: Will this windfall become a catalyst for transformation, or will it be swallowed by the same old culture of announcements without delivery?
In Nigeria, the politics of optics has long overshadowed the urgency of real progress. Groundbreaking ceremonies, policy launches, and ribbon cuttings make headlines, but they do not change lives. Announcements are not achievements. Real governance is not what is said—but what is seen, felt, and experienced by the people.
Governors must realise that getting things done—on time and within budget—is now the true test of leadership credibility. Citizens are not impressed by soaring rhetoric or media coverage. They want working schools, functional hospitals, clean water, secure communities, and real economic opportunities.
Invest in people, not just projects
The post-subsidy revenues must be used as a springboard to unlock human capital development across the states. With over 20 million Nigerian children out of school, alarming malnutrition rates, and overstretched health systems, the priority is clear: invest in education, healthcare, nutrition, and youth empowerment.
Governors must begin asking tough but necessary questions: How many children in my state can read by age 10? How many pregnant women survive childbirth? How many youth have access to modern vocational training? These are the metrics that define meaningful leadership.
Strengthen the machinery of delivery
Money alone does not deliver results—systems do. Governors must urgently strengthen the governance architecture in their states. This means building reliable data systems for real-time tracking of projects and service delivery.
It also requires enhancing the capacity of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), professionalizing the civil service, and insulating critical reforms from political interference. Establishing State Delivery Units can help drive priority outcomes and troubleshoot implementation bottlenecks.
Without capable systems, even the best intentions collapse under the weight of implementation failure.
Shift from optics to outcomes
Many governors fall into the trap of seeking quick wins for visibility—billboards, branded palliatives, and endless press conferences. But this short-term thinking only leads to long-term stagnation. The true test is not how loudly a program is announced, but whether it genuinely improves the daily lives of citizens.
Now is the time to embrace a culture of evidence-based delivery. Set clear targets, monitor performance rigorously, and hold government actors accountable. Let governors spend more time in stocktake meetings than in photo ops. Let budgets reflect priorities that solve problems, not just win applause.
This Is a defining moment.
The post-subsidy fiscal windfall presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for states to chart a new course. Nigerian governors must rise above business-as-usual politics and deliver transformative governance that endures.
History will not remember who shouted the loudest. It will remember who got things done.
Dr. Murtala Adogi Mohammed is a policy extrapreneur, governance strategist, and futurist. He is the founder of the System Strategy & Policy Lab (SSPL), Nigeria. mamurtala@gmail.com
