The Centre for Governance Research (CGR), a New York-based analysis assume tank, has rated the administration of President Bola Tinubu as “failing”, awarding it a rating of 28.5 per cent in its September 2026 Governance Report.
The report, which assesses governance on the federal and state ranges in Nigeria, attributed the low ranking to issues over public debt, price range implementation, safety, money transfers and the President’s extended absence from the nation.
According to the report, not one of the 9 indicators used to evaluate the Federal Government scored above 3.5 out of 10.
Security, fundamental wants, governance and public sentiment every scored 2.5, whereas infrastructure recorded the very best rating of three.5.
The report additionally assessed the efficiency of state governments, with Imo, Ondo, Benue, Rivers, Taraba and Sokoto among the many states mentioned to not have carried out properly.
Responding to the findings, Dr Catherine Whitmore, the organisation’s Head of Communication and Press Coordinator, described the report as an necessary milestone in efforts to analyze the causes and results of poor governance in Africa’s most populous nation.
She mentioned the evaluation represented a scientific {and professional} effort to look at governance via evidence-based analysis.
The report recognized rising public debt as one of many components weighing on the Federal Government’s efficiency, stating that Nigeria’s whole public debt reached N166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026, a rise of N7.44 trillion in three months.
On price range implementation, it acknowledged that Tinubu signed a fourth extension of the 2025 capital price range on September 30, shifting its implementation deadline to December 31, 2026.
It additionally cited data from earlier price range defence classes indicating that N9.13 billion had been launched in opposition to N1.218 trillion appropriated throughout eight ministries, representing about 1.3 per cent of the quantity.
The report additional questioned the transparency surrounding the President’s absence from Nigeria, stating that he left the nation on August 30 and arrived in Lagos on September 29. It added that his return date had been shifted twice and that no well being data had been printed.
On social intervention programmes, the evaluation cited an Auditor-General’s question regarding N33.75 billion in money transfers made in 2023, stating that the data didn’t set up whether or not the cash reached real beneficiaries. The report famous that the company disputed the question.
Security issues additionally featured within the evaluation. According to the report, the Presidency put the variety of deaths in custody at a detention centre in Minna at 37, whereas a information company filmed 33 our bodies at a hospital.
It added that a minimum of 87 folks, largely girls, had been reported lacking following two weekend assaults in Niger and Zamfara states.
Despite the low total ranking, the report acknowledged some optimistic financial developments throughout the interval underneath assessment.
These included a decline in inflation to 14.63 per cent, an enchancment within the naira’s worth, international reserves rising above $54 billion, a discount within the financial coverage fee and wage will increase of between 30 and 80 per cent for navy personnel.
However, the report concluded that these positive factors had been inadequate to offset the opposite issues recognized in its evaluation.
The CGR mentioned its Governance Report evaluates the Federal Government, the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory month-to-month utilizing 9 indicators: the economic system and public funds, safety, transparency, fundamental wants, healthcare, training, infrastructure, governance and public sentiment.
It mentioned the indications had been assigned mounted weights earlier than every evaluation and utilized uniformly throughout all governments.
According to the organisation, solely occasions occurring inside the month underneath assessment are thought of, whereas claims are assessed in opposition to out there proof. Government claims of success are handled as claims till independently verified, and disagreements between sources are documented.
The report added that another calculation assigning equal weights to all 9 indicators produced a rating of 28.3, which it mentioned confirmed that the general outcome was not depending on the weighting system.
The organisation mentioned the proof supporting its findings was linked to named sources and publication dates, including that journalists may request entry to the scores and supporting supplies.
The full report and methodology can be found on the organisation’s web site, governanceresearch.org.
We’ve acquired the sting. Get real-time studies, breaking scoops, and unique angles delivered straight to your cellphone. Don’t accept stale information. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for twenty-four/7 updates →
