FG to Hold MDAs to Performance Targets, Moves to End Overlapping Regulations
The Federal Government is set to hold Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to measurable performance targets as part of efforts to cut bureaucratic delays, eliminate overlapping regulations and make government more responsive to businesses and investors.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this at a strategic meeting with heads of agencies and senior officials at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
He stated that the next phase of Nigeria’s economic reforms must move beyond macroeconomic stabilization to address everyday frustrations businesses encounter in dealing with government.
In a statement by Efe Ovuakporie, Head of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry, the Minister stressed that agencies must make it easier, not harder, for businesses to operate, invest and expand.
To achieve this, he called on agencies to operate strictly within their statutory mandates and eliminate duplicate requirements, multiple fees and unnecessary procedures that raise the cost of doing business.
Oyedele outlined a “One Government” approach under which MDAs would coordinate their activities rather than leave businesses to navigate conflicting demands from different institutions. Where mandates overlap, he said, the goal should be one lead agency, one process and one fee.
The Minister also urged agencies to consult stakeholders before introducing new regulations, assess the economic implications of proposed measures, liaise with relevant institutions and provide reasonable notice before major policy or regulatory changes take effect.
On public finance management, he directed agencies to remit all revenues due to government promptly and in full, transfer operating surpluses to the Consolidated Revenue Fund and submit audited accounts as required by law.
Oyedele noted that agency performance would henceforth be judged by results, including speed of service delivery, compliance with published timelines and reduction in regulatory costs for businesses.
He added that the Ministry of Finance would be held to the same standards, acknowledging the need to address internal bottlenecks such as slow approvals, delayed releases and outdated rules.
As a next step, the Ministry will review submissions from participating agencies and provide specific feedback within four to six weeks. The draft framework will thereafter be circulated for further consultation, with each agency expected to commit to measurable targets whose implementation will be reviewed periodically.
The initiative is aimed at making public institutions more accountable for service quality and efficiency, while creating a regulatory environment where businesses spend less time navigating government procedures and more time investing, expanding and creating jobs.
