Nigeria’s Democracy Must Deliver Tangible Economic Results — Jonathan Foundation

The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) has called for a shift in evaluating Nigeria’s democracy, urging that its success be measured by tangible economic outcomes and functional public institutions rather than merely the conduct of periodic elections.

Speaking at a national convening in Abuja on Thursday, during the launch of the report “Strengthening the Nexus between Democracy and Economic Growth in Nigeria,” the foundation’s executive director, Ms. Ann Iyonu, said that 27 years after Nigeria returned to civilian rule, the “promise of democracy” remains largely unfulfilled due to pervasive poverty, fiscal indiscipline, and widespread procurement fraud.

“Democracy must not be measured by elections alone but by results—by schools that function, clinics and hospitals that work, infrastructure that lasts, and institutions that deliver,” Iyonu said in her keynote address.

She added, “While our democracy is durable with all its imperfections, the task before us is to make it effective. If we can compel governance to deliver, democracy will not only survive, it will thrive, and our economy will thrive with it. That is the true dividend we must secure.”

Iyonu stressed that Nigeria’s challenge is not the absence of laws or regulatory agencies, but the failure to enforce them. She called for a practical shift toward “effective democracy,” where institutions uphold their own rules and governance tangibly impacts citizens’ daily lives.

“Democracy is good for our economy when institutions uphold their rules, fiscal discipline is real, procurement is transparent, audits lead to action, and reforms survive political turnover. These are not abstract ideas; they are the foundations of growth, jobs, and opportunity,” she said.

The report launched by the foundation outlines a 10-point policy roadmap, including enforcing fiscal ceilings to stabilize the economy, digitizing procurement to curb corruption, strengthening audit mechanisms, and implementing institutional reforms directly tied to service delivery.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Matthew Ayebakuro, Governance Advisor for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), emphasized the link between democracy and economic growth. He said citizens’ confidence in democratic institutions depends on whether they deliver jobs, services, and a sense of shared progress.

“Democracy matters not only as a system of political participation and accountability but also because of the institutional foundation it provides—transparency, rule of law, checks and balances, and responsive governance—all critical for sustainable economic growth,” Ayebakuro said.

He commended former President Goodluck Jonathan and the foundation for advancing dialogue on democratic governance, peace, leadership, and inclusive development across Nigeria and Africa. Ayebakuro said the platform offered an opportunity for policymakers, legislators, civil society, and development partners to reflect on concrete steps to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy for the benefit of all citizens.

The convening concluded with a call for stakeholders to transition from dialogue to practical enforcement of existing rules to ensure that Nigeria’s democracy delivers prosperity and opportunity for all.