Good Policies Fail Without Institutional Support, Ex-Minister Warns Judgement

BY GABI HIBBATULLAH, Abuja

A former minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, has warned that good government policies may fail to deliver lasting results without strong institutional support, adequate funding and the commitment of stakeholders.

Johnson said the success of public sector reforms should not depend on the individuals who initiate them but on structures capable of sustaining their implementation beyond their tenure.

Johnson made the observations while reflecting on discussions at “Unblocking Reform: From Design to Delivery,” organised by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation.

According to her, Nigeria does not lack well-designed policies, but often struggles with the process of translating them into tangible and sustainable outcomes.

“The hardest test of any reform is what happens after its champion leaves,” she said.

Johnson admitted that some of the reforms initiated during her tenure were not sustained at the pace expected, adding that the experience offered important lessons about institutional change.

She explained that public institutions were not necessarily obstacles to reforms, but the channels through which government policies must be implemented.

The former minister said procurement regulations, budget cycles, civil service structures and established relationships within government required reform leaders to adopt a flexible approach.

“Adaptability, in this sense, is not a willingness to abandon the goal. It is a willingness to change the route while holding the destination steady,” she stated.

Johnson, who spent 25 years at Accenture before joining government, said her experience in the private sector initially shaped her understanding of organisational transformation.

However, she said working in government taught her the importance of distinguishing between bureaucratic bottlenecks and procedures designed to protect the public interest.

She noted that engaging career civil servants and securing their cooperation helped strengthen the implementation of reforms.