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President Tinubu's reforms

Governance, Institutions & Democracy

Building the Trust That Makes Reform Last

Economic reform only holds when institutions are credible. The Tinubu Administration has worked to strengthen the agencies, processes, and structures through which government accountability is exercised — because without trust in institutions, no other reform can deliver its full promise.

What Has been Done

Record anti-corruption enforcement. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission secured 7,503 convictions in the first two years of the administration — the highest in the agency’s 22-year history — and recovered over ₦566 billion in assets alongside $411 million in foreign currency. In 2024 alone, 4,111 convictions were recorded, surpassing any single year on record. Recovered funds have been reinvested into the Student Loan and Consumer Credit schemes.

Fiscal transparency strengthened. Ways and Means financing has been discontinued. The Auditor-General’s office is being equipped with digital tools. All government transactions are moving to traceable payment systems. A new national fiscal policy framework — covering taxation, borrowing, and expenditure discipline — is now in place. A Tax Ombudsman is being established to protect taxpayers and ensure the system is applied fairly.

Local government autonomy secured. In July 2024, the Supreme Court — acting on a suit brought by the federal government — delivered a landmark ruling granting Nigeria’s 774 local government areas direct access to their federal allocations. Governors can no longer withhold or control funds constitutionally designated for local councils. Over ₦4.5 trillion has been disbursed to local governments since the ruling, and more than 30 states conducted council elections in response.

Budget discipline restored. The 2026 Budget — at ₦58.18 trillion, the largest in Nigeria’s history — comes with explicit accountability directives to the Finance Minister, Accountant-General, and Budget Office to ensure implementation matches appropriation. The President has been direct: “The greatest budget is not the one we announce. It is the one we deliver.”

Sovereignty ratings improving. Fitch upgraded Nigeria’s sovereign rating to B with a stable outlook. Moody’s raised its issuer rating to B3. Both cited improved economic governance, clearer policy direction, and greater institutional predictability as the basis for the upgrades.

What It Means For Nigerians

Government that can be held to account delivers more. When anti-corruption agencies operate independently, public funds go further. When local governments control their own allocations, communities get services faster. When budgets are executed as approved, citizens get the infrastructure and welfare they were promised. These reforms are about making government work — not just announcing that it will.

Governance, Institutions & Democracy — Tinubu Administration
Tinubu Administration · Democratic Reform

Governance, Institutions
& Democracy

How governance reforms are rebuilding trust, strengthening transparency, and securing the democratic foundations on which all other reforms succeed.

Scale at a Glance
₦566B
Assets recovered by EFCC since Oct 2023
₦4.5T
FAAC allocations to 774 LGAs (Jul 2024–Jun 2025)
3.0%
Fiscal deficit as % of GDP in 2024, down from 5.4%
₦58.18T
2026 Budget — largest in Nigeria’s history
140th
TI Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 — up from 145th
Anti-Corruption Enforcement — EFCC
EFCC: Unprecedented Enforcement Under Tinubu’s Watch
Highest convictions and asset recovery in the Commission’s 22-year history — independence upheld & recovered funds reinvested into social programmes
7,503
Total convictions in 2 years (Oct 2023–Oct 2025)
4,111
Convictions in 2024 alone — highest single year on record
₦566B
Total assets recovered in 2 years (cash + property)
$411M
Foreign currency recovered alongside naira assets
15,724
Petitions received in 2024
1,502
Non-monetary assets seized
🏠Largest Single Asset Recovery

December 2024: Final forfeiture of a 150,500 sq metre estate in Abuja containing 753 duplexes and apartments. Handed over to Ministry of Housing by May 2025.

📋12,928 Case Files Opened (2024)

5,081 cases filed in court. EFCC received Senate’s unanimous commendation — the first time such recognition has been unanimous in the Senate’s history.

👥Funds Reinvested in Society

Recovered proceeds reinvested into the Student Loan Scheme and Consumer Credit Scheme — turning corruption proceeds into opportunity for citizens.

Judicial Independence Upheld

Supreme Court ruling upheld EFCC’s anti-corruption mandate. Administration committed to non-interference with judicial and anti-graft agency operations.

🔍Transparency International CPI

Nigeria improved from 25 to 26 points, rising from 145th to 140th globally in 2024 — the first improvement in several years.

💲₦1 Trillion Recovery Goal

EFCC targets surpassing ₦1T in 2025, building on ₦364.6B cash recovered in 2024 alone — enough to fund five state budgets combined.

Fiscal Discipline & Budget Transparency
Inherited / 2023 BaselineBy 2024–2025
97–100%
Debt service as % of revenue (2022)
<40%
Debt service ratio by 2024
−57 percentage points
5.4%
Fiscal deficit as % of GDP (2023)
3.0%
Fiscal deficit as % of GDP (2024)
Halved through revenue reform
₦19.9T
Total revenue collection (2023)
₦27.8T
Revenue as of August 2025 (surpassing ₦18.32T target)
+40% revenue growth in 2 years
Active
Ways & Means deficit financing (inflationary)
Discontinued
Ways & Means financing ended — reducing structural inflation
Major driver of price stability
Multiple
Foreign exchange windows (distortion & arbitrage)
Unified
Single FX window — transparency restored to currency framework
FX backlog of $10B cleared
Local Government Autonomy — Historic Supreme Court Ruling
July 11, 2024: Landmark Supreme Court Ruling on LGA Financial Autonomy
Federal government sued all 36 states to enforce constitutional LGA rights. Unanimous 7-justice ruling: governors can no longer hold or withhold funds meant for local councils. The most significant democratic decentralisation in Nigeria’s history.
774
Local Government Areas granted direct federal allocation access
₦4.5T
Disbursed to LGAs between July 2024 and June 2025
₦3.09T
LGA allocations in the prior 12-month period
30+
States that conducted council elections following the ruling
⚠ Implementation remains contested: several state governors are resisting direct payment, exploiting constitutional grey areas. President Tinubu has threatened contempt proceedings against non-complying governors and continues to push for full enforcement — the reform is in motion but not yet complete.
Institutional Reform Milestones
60%

FAAC Revenue to States Increased

Federation Account allocations to states grew by 60% under Tinubu, enabling more local development projects and reducing state government fiscal stress.

📋
₦58.18T

Largest Budget in Nigeria’s History

2026 Appropriation Bill presented with ₦26.08T in capital expenditure and strict directives on budget execution accountability and timeline compliance.

🔎
Tax Ombudsman

Independent Taxpayer Protection Office

A Tax Ombudsman being established — an independent institution to protect vulnerable taxpayers and ensure the system works for every Nigerian, especially small businesses.

👑
₦77K

NYSC Stipend Increased

Youth Corps monthly stipend raised from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000 — a 133% increase, boosting youth morale and reflecting the government’s investment in the next generation.

💰
KPI Monthly

Presidential Performance Monitoring

President Tinubu directed monthly KPI reports from the Head of Service and quarterly meetings with all Permanent Secretaries — tying civil servant performance to measurable outcomes.

🏛
Sukuk Repaid

First Sukuk Bond Fully Repaid

Nigeria fully repaid its first N100 billion Sukuk issued in 2017 — a signal of fiscal credibility, improving sovereign trust and access to ethical Islamic finance instruments.

“The greatest budget is not the one we announce. It is the one we deliver. Public funds must be traceable, and officers accountable. Transparency and accountability are not optional — they are key to Nigeria’s future.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu · National Conference on Fiscal Governance, Transparency & Accountability · July 2025
Four Pillars of Institutional Renewal
📋
Fiscal Transparency

Ways & Means discontinued; unified FX; budget KPIs; Tax Ombudsman; Auditor-General’s office strengthened; digital payment systems for government transactions.

🏛
Democratic Devolution

LGA financial autonomy ruling enforced; 30+ states held council elections; direct FAAC payments to 774 councils targeted; caretaker committees declared illegal.

🔍
Anti-Corruption Drive

Record 7,503 EFCC convictions; ₦566B assets recovered; Transparency International ranking improved; recovered funds reinvested into social programmes.

Transparency & Accountability Measures

📋 Key Accountability Commitments & Mechanisms

🔒
National Fiscal Policy FrameworkA new national fiscal policy introduced to guide fair taxation, responsible borrowing, and disciplined spending across all tiers of government.
🔎
Auditor-General’s Office StrengthenedDigital tools committed for the Office of the Auditor-General. All government transactions moving to traceable digital payment systems.
Digital Government PaymentsPromoting digital payment systems across agencies to eliminate cash-based diversion. NFIU monitoring LGA fund utilisation to prevent corruption at grassroots.
👥
Civil Service KPI ReformMonthly Head of Service briefings and quarterly Permanent Secretary reviews tied to performance. Delays in citizen welfare programmes declared unacceptable.
🌏
Credit Rating UpgradesFitch upgraded Nigeria to B with stable outlook; Moody’s raised issuer rating to B3 — both citing improved economic foresight and clearer policy direction.
📈
Revenue Surge Confirms Leakage ClosureRevenue doubled from ₦19.9T (2023) to ₦25.2T (2024) through leakage-blocking, automation, and creative mobilisation — without new taxes on citizens.
Governance Progress Indicators
Fiscal deficit reducedFrom 5.4% of GDP (2023) to 3.0% (2024) — greater budget discipline
↓44%
Debt service-to-revenue ratioFell from near 100% in 2022 to under 40% by 2024 — freeing resources for services
<40%
EFCC convictions in 20244,111 — highest single-year total in EFCC’s 22-year history
4,111
Revenue growth above target₦27.8T collected by Aug 2025 vs ₦18.32T target — 52% above target
+52%
LGA allocation growthFrom ₦2.26T (Jul 2022–Jun 2023) to ₦4.5T (Jul 2024–Jun 2025) — +99%
+99%
Renewed Hope Administration · Nigeria · Governance, Institutions & Democracy Theme

Sources: Statehouse.gov.ng (EFCC NJI Workshop, Oct 2025; 2026 Budget presentation, Dec 2025); Tinubu mid-term scorecard (May 2025); Senate EFCC commendation (Oct 2025); Dataphyte LGA analysis (Aug 2025); Vanguard / Punch / EFCC Chairman reports; Transparency International CPI 2024; Investors King (EFCC annual report 2024); ConstitutionNet Supreme Court ruling (Jul 2024); Gov. Uzodimma address, PGF Summit, Feb 24, 2026