Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has argued in favor of maintaining policy continuity in Nigeria between administration transitions.
She addressed a room full of attorneys at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos on Sunday, saying, “Maintaining good economic and social policies; maintaining policy consistency and adding more reforms on top of that will lead us along the path of good progress that we all desire.” At the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) 2024 Annual General Conference opening ceremony on Sunday, the internationally renowned developmental economist known for her African print Ankara wears and unusual headgear tilted at a convenient angle gave a keynote address titled “A Social Contract For Nigeria’s Future.”
The former finance minister of Nigeria criticized a tendency in governance that she called the “not-in-my-administration syndrome” and claimed was to blame for Nigeria’s subpar economic performance.
She stated that a social compact is necessary for Nigeria and that all Nigerians, irrespective of their party or other connections, had to accept it. According to the developmental economist, anytime Nigeria experiences an administration transition, some sacred policies shouldn’t be altered.
After being examined by the public, she declared that some of these initiatives ought to become laws. According to Okonjo-Iweala, upholding policy coherence and implementing additional changes will lead to the good governance that we all aspire to.