Tinubu group seeks quarterly summit for govs, appointees

A Nigerian advocacy group is calling for President Bola Tinubu to implement regular leadership summits for governors, local government chairmen, and political appointees. The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG) believes these quarterly meetings, coupled with a monthly policy focus, would foster better policy coordination and accelerate development across the country.

Bamidele Atoyebi, the group's convener, stated that Nigeria's primary challenge is no longer a lack of funds but ensuring all government tiers work with a unified vision and clear priorities. He acknowledged the administration's efforts to address insecurity, economic reforms, infrastructure deficits, and power sector issues, citing projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the student loan scheme.

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The greatest challenge facing the country is no longer the availability of resources but ensuring that every tier of government works with a shared vision and clearly defined priorities in governance and development.

Despite these initiatives, Atoyebi observed that many Nigerians have not yet felt the impact of reforms. He pointed out that increased allocations to sub-national governments have not consistently led to visible development in communities. To counter this, the group proposed a monthly policy focus, assigning specific national development priorities like rural road construction or youth empowerment to all government levels, with an expectation of measurable outcomes.

The proposed quarterly leadership empowerment summit would involve the President, governors, ministers, and local government chairmen. This platform, according to BAT-IG, would allow for progress reviews and the sharing of best practices, ultimately aiming to ensure that increased public spending translates into tangible benefits for citizens.

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Despite these achievements, many Nigerians remain unconvinced because the impact of increased allocations to sub-national governments has not translated into visible and coordinated development in many communities.