Stakeholders Call for Accountability in Nigeria’s Public Utilities Management

A cross‐section of civil society groups, industry experts and community leaders this week renewed calls for greater accountability and transparency in the management of Nigeria’s public utilities, warning that current performance and governance arrangements are inadequate for delivering quality services to citizens.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum held in Abuja, representatives from labour unions, public interest NGOs and user advocacy groups said vital sectors such as electricity, water supply, transport and waste management continue to suffer from weak oversight, unclear regulatory frameworks and poor service delivery. According to the participants, these challenges hinder national development, deepen poverty and erode public trust in government.

“Public utilities exist for the public good. When they fail, it is ordinary citizens who pay the price in higher costs, unreliable services and lost opportunities,” remarked one representative from a community rights organization. “We cannot continue to tolerate a system where those responsible operate with little visibility, weak sanctions and minimal citizen engagement.”

Key recommendations from the meeting included:

• Strengthening independent regulatory bodies and ensuring they are resourced and empowered to sanction non‐performing utilities;

• Enforcing clear performance contracts for public utilities, with regular audits and public disclosure of results;

• Enhancing citizen involvement in utility decision making through user satisfaction feedback platforms and public hearings;

• Bolstering funding transparency so that revenues, subsidies and tariffs are subject to independent oversight; and

• Integrating digital tools for monitoring operations, raising red flags when systems under‐perform and enabling timely intervention.

Several speakers emphasised that Nigeria’s large investments in utilities often fail to deliver commensurate results, pointing to frequent service disruptions, high tariffs and unauthorised charges as evidence of systemic failure. They urged the government to treat utility reform not merely as technical adjustments but as a transformation of governance culture.

From the regulatory side, one policymaker confirmed that reforms are underway, noting that the federal government is working on a new performance‐monitoring framework across utilities that aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda. However, he warned that “policy frameworks without enforcement and citizen oversight will continue to fall short.”

The gathering also addressed the impact of utility failures on the most vulnerable Nigerians. “When water doesn’t flow, or electricity is unpredictable, poor households suffer the most,” observed a development economist in attendance. “Accountability isn’t just a governance matter—it’s a social equity issue.”

Looking ahead, the stakeholders pointed out that digitalization, better stakeholder coordination and stronger institutional culture can unlock efficiency gains and improve service delivery. They called on both the federal and state governments to accelerate reforms, allocate funds for capacity building and open utility data for public scrutiny.

In closing, the chair of the session urged all parties to view utility management as part of national security and development strategy: “A country that cannot ensure reliable power, water and transport cannot compete. Utility accountability is not optional—it is foundational.”