IRIAD tasks FG on renewed commitment to results, implementation

As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, the Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) and The Electoral Hub have called for a renewed commitment to moving from reforms to results and from commitments to implementation.

The Director of The Electoral Hub, Princess Abijah Hamman-Obels, made the call in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

Obels said Nigerians want a country defined not only by government promises, but by what government institutions deliver.

She said Nigerians wanted to see the impact of government policies in their communities and whether every citizen had a fair opportunity to live with dignity, security and hope.

Obels said that at 66, Nigeria had a history worth honouring and a future that required collective responsibility.

“We honour those who fought for independence, and we recognise the millions of Nigerians who continue to work every day for a country where freedom has meaning in their everyday lives.

“The Federal Government’s theme, ‘From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity,’ calls for more than reform as an announcement.

“It calls for reforms that strengthen institutions, improve services, expand opportunities, protect rights, and build the confidence necessary for a stable and inclusive society.

“Stability is not simply the absence of crisis. It is the presence of functioning institutions, economic opportunity, security, justice, inclusion, accountability and public trust.

“Independence gave us the freedom to determine our future. Reforms give us the tools to shape it. Implementation turns those tools into results,” she said.

As part of its recommendations, Obels urged the Federal Government to strengthen oversight and implementation of reforms.

Obels said the call placed responsibility on key institutions, including the National Assembly, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), state and local governments, as well as security and justice institutions, to ensure that approved reforms translated into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

She said the National Assembly should strengthen its oversight role by tracking the enforcement of laws, scrutinising public expenditure and demanding performance reports from MDAs.

“They should also identify and address institutional or legislative barriers that prevent approved reforms from delivering their intended results,” she said.

For MDAs, she said the emphasis should be on making implementation measurable and citizen-focused.

“Major reforms should be supported by clear delivery plans identifying the responsible institutions, funding arrangements, timelines and measurable outcomes.

“This would enable citizens to track government commitments and determine what has been delivered and what remains outstanding,” she said.

Obels said state and local governments should bring reforms closer to communities by strengthening basic service delivery, publishing information on public projects and budgets, creating accessible feedback mechanisms and ensuring that national policies produced practical improvements at the grassroots.

She said security and justice institutions should strengthen stability through improved safety, access to justice and respect for the rule of law.

“This includes better prevention and response mechanisms, timely justice and protection of citizens and communities. Public confidence, rather than fear, is identified as a foundation for sustainable stability,” she said.

On the economy, Obels said economic institutions should ensure that reforms translated into improved living conditions for households and greater opportunities for businesses.

She identified productive employment, reliable and affordable infrastructure, business growth, food security and improved household welfare as key priorities.