NIGERIA’S DISMAL MO IBRAHIM SCORE CARD

The recent Mo Ibrahim Index report is an embarrassment

The latest report from the Mo Ibrahim Index of Africa Governance (IIAG) is another sad reminder of what governance has become on the continent. It’s a stinking score card on anti-corruption measures, protection of civil liberties and caring for the environment in most African countries. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the 2024 report is that Nigeria is one of the eleven countries on the continent with the highest level of deterioration in governance in the last decade. Slumping three places from 30th to 33rd on the continent, Nigeria is ranked as one of the worst-ruled countries in Africa since 2014. This should concern critical stakeholders in the country.

According to the 2024 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), overall governance and security was worse in 2023 than it was a decade earlier in most Africa countries, while the rise in junta-led governments may drive greater conflict, fuelling a trend of deteriorating living standards. After years of steady progress, Africa’s overall governance performance once again turned messy in 2022, the report further revealed. Meanwhile, Nigeria scored 45.7 per cent, flopping on absence of armed conflict (2.1 per cent) and scoring 39 per cent on security and rule of law and 47.3 per cent on accountability and transparency. On anti-corruption, Nigeria scored 28.9 per cent, 47 per cent on inclusion; 43 per cent on equality; 59 per cent on women equality; 48.6 per cent on economic opportunity; 41 per cent on infrastructure and 44.6 per cent on health; 51 per cent on education; 44 per cent on social protection and 45 per cent on sustainable environment.

It is not difficult to see how the Mo Ibrahim foundation arrived at its dismal conclusion on Nigeria. A cursory glance at how citizens access the good life in terms of water, shelter, education and all the other basic amenities shows that governance is far removed from the people. In its place, crass opportunism, hurriedly formulated and wrongly implemented policies and a preference for mediocrity has become the norm. And although there is a semblance of government in place, real governance is seriously absent. What many discerning country men and women now do is independently provide for themselves. 

Indeed, Nigeria’s present ranking speaks volumes of the quality of governance in the country. Yet, the reality is that, even without these figures, it is apparent that governance is at its lowest ebb, and many of the people in charge at practically all levels have not lived up to expectations. If the first duty of any government is the provision of the basic needs of security, welfare and a sense of purpose, can those at the helms of affairs in our country claim to have lived up to these ideals? 

Established in 2006 by a Sudanese billionaire and democracy advocate, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is dedicated to strengthening the African voice on global stage by providing data and analysis to assess challenges on the continent and how they are being addressed or ignored. Published since 2007, the IIAG assesses the public governance performance of 54 African countries every two years while the data comes from 49 independent sources, some of which are financially supported by the Foundation.

Over the years, the IIAG report has presented the framework for citizens, governments, institutions and the private sector to assess accurately the delivery of public services, and policy outcome across the continent. “We must work harder to ensure that progress is felt in the everyday lives of our people and better reported when that is the case,” founder and chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, wrote in the report. “Because unmet expectations, especially for the young people, fuel frustration and anger, the best triggers for unrest and conflict.”

While the latest Mo Ibrahim Index report on Nigeria did not come to many as a surprise, it should be a wake-up call for those in authority. It is important for the government, at all levels, to take this report seriously and begin to work on making improvements in critical areas.

 While the latest Mo Ibrahim Index report on Nigeria did not come to many as a surprise, it should be a wake-up call for those in authority