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Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa, generating about 20% of the continent’s total GDP, and transfers a far greater proportion of resources to sub-national government than any other country. Yet standards of governance remain extremely low, public services are among the worst in Africa and economic growth has exacerbated inequality rather than creating jobs. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, two out of three Nigerians live in poverty.

The federal system of governance in Nigeria is failing to provide the basic welfare for all citizens that the 1999 Constitution prescribes. On the first anniversary of the election victory of President Muhammadu Buhari, ARI published a Briefing Note that examines the origins and purpose of the federation, state governments’ financial management and responsibilities, governors’ arbitrary power, and the need to increase internally generated state revenue.

On 28 April 2016, ARI invited three speakers to draw upon their experiences and expertise in order to discuss the state of state governments in Nigeria:

‘Dapo Oyewole

Former Special Adviser to the Minister of State for Finance and
Technical Advisor to the Minister of National Planning, Nigeria

Hadiza Elayo
Deputy National Programme Manager at
the State Partnership for Accountability, Responsiveness and Capability (SPARC) , Nigeria

Patrick Smith

Founding Editor, The Africa Report; Editor, Africa Confidential