Bridging the Gap: Rethinking Governance, Taxation, and Community Engagement for Inclusive Development in Nigeria
~~ Dr. Aiyeku Olufemi Samuel Co-Founder & Lead Consultant, Global Human Capital & Energy Management Limited
Introduction: Why Is Governance Failing the People?
Governance, taxation, and development are not isolated pillars—they form an interdependent ecosystem where citizens, institutions, and governments co-create progress. However, in Nigeria, this delicate balance is dangerously skewed. Citizens are taxed but neglected. Government strategies exist but rarely resonate with grassroots needs. Communication is loud from the top but silent at the bottom.
Is governance in Nigeria truly about people—or simply about power?
Can we redefine statecraft by focusing on sustainable systems rather than superficial slogans?
To reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth, we must reimagine how governance operates across all levels—especially by strengthening local engagement, equitable taxation, food security, and inclusive strategy execution.
Global Governance and the Local Disconnect
Nigeria operates in a globalized world where governance benchmarks are shifting towards inclusiveness, transparency, and data-driven decisions. Yet, many Nigerian states and local governments are still functioning like isolated islands—detached from best practices and citizen realities.
According to the World Governance Indicators (2023), Nigeria ranks poorly in Government Effectiveness (14.9%), Voice and Accountability (22.7%), and Rule of Law (16.3%).
A 2022 Afrobarometer survey found that 62% of Nigerians feel disconnected from governance processes in their local communities.
How can global principles work in a country where grassroots voices are muted?
Governance must move from being elite-centric to citizen-centric. This begins with decentralizing decision-making, building functional local councils, and empowering traditional and community-based institutions with resources and responsibility.
Taxation Without Representation?
Nigeria’s informal economy accounts for over 57% of its GDP and 80% of employment, yet tax collection remains skewed and regressive.
Less than 10% of Nigerians pay income tax (FIRS, 2023).
Over 65% of tax burden falls on registered small and medium enterprises (SMEs), many of whom are taxed multiple times at local, state, and federal levels.
The Federal Government’s ambition to increase tax-to-GDP ratio from 10.86% to 18% by 2026 lacks corresponding fiscal transparency.
Why should citizens pay more when they receive less?
Can we tax the informal sector without offering them formal benefits?
Trust in taxation is built through service delivery. When taxes are seen as instruments of oppression rather than development, evasion becomes a survival strategy.
“People don’t resist taxes—they resist injustice.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt
Organisational Strategy and Government Execution Gaps
Strategy is only as good as its implementation—and this is where most Nigerian government plans fail. Whether it’s the National Development Plan (2021–2025) or Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP), disconnects between policy design and community realities make these documents end up as paperwork, not transformation.
The key missing link? Execution through inclusive organisational strategies, particularly at subnational levels.
Many MDAs lack Monitoring & Evaluation frameworks.
Local governments rarely align budgets with SDG targets.
Stakeholder mapping is absent in policy formulation, causing resistance or apathy at the grassroots.
Should government plan for the people without the people?
Strategic development should be driven by data, decentralization, and deliberate community participation. Strategy must no longer be a tool for elite control but for bottom-up transformation.
Food Security – A Nation’s Greatest Vulnerability
Nigeria’s food security crisis is not a scarcity problem, but a governance failure. Despite 70% of the population engaged in agriculture, we still import basic staples.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 22.8 million Nigerians faced acute food insecurity in 2023.
Post-harvest loss accounts for 40% of produce due to lack of storage and market linkages.
Budgetary allocation to agriculture has consistently remained below 3%, far short of the Maputo Declaration's 10% target.
Can a hungry nation think, vote, or grow wisely?
Food security must become a national emergency agenda. This requires:
Agro-value chain investments at state and LGA levels.
Youth agropreneurship incubation hubs.
Public-private partnerships for community-based irrigation systems and climate-resilient practices.
Community Engagement and Communication – The Broken Bridge
Most government policies in Nigeria are poorly communicated, leading to misinformation, distrust, and failure of adoption.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) remains underfunded and underutilized.
Grassroots media (community radio, religious networks, town unions) are ignored in favour of urban-centric communication models.
Only 21% of rural Nigerians understand key national policies affecting them (NOIPolls, 2023).
How can policies succeed if people don’t understand them?
Is leadership about visibility or accessibility?
Leaders must listen more, speak clearly, and act transparently. Government must leverage indigenous knowledge systems, language, and local influencers to drive home the message of national development.
Recommendations for Building a Responsive and Resilient Nigeria
To address the multi-dimensional governance challenges outlined above, the following action points are recommended:
Fiscal Federalism and Tax Reform – Streamline tax regimes, promote equity, digitize collection, and match taxes with services delivered.
Local Government Autonomy – Full legislative and financial independence for local governments with citizen accountability structures.
Grassroots Participatory Governance – Institutionalize town hall meetings, social audits, and citizens’ budgets in all LGAs.
Strategic Community-Based Planning – Merge traditional leadership with MDAs in co-designing strategies for education, health, and agriculture.
Strengthen National Orientation Agency (NOA) – Transform it into a digital-first communication agency focused on behavioural change and civic education.
Conclusion: Governance Is a Conversation, Not a Command
Governance is not just what leaders do—it’s what citizens experience.
If Nigeria is to escape its vicious cycle of poverty, insecurity, and inefficiency, we must reconstruct governance as a dialogue between state and society.
“When people feel heard, they contribute; when they are ignored, they resist.”
~ Dr. Aiyeku Olufemi Samuel
So, we ask:
When will the people become the centre of governance and not just the subject of campaigns?
When will taxation stop being a tool of oppression and start being a contract for development?
When will grassroots voices be respected as national assets, not local noise?
The time for answers is now.
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