A professor of Public Administration at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Prof. Ehiyamen Mediayanose Osezua, says Nigeria’s future depends on credible, accountable and results-driven institutions not individual leaders.

He made the remarks during the university’s 11th inaugural lecture held on 5 May 2026 at its main campus in Okitipupa, Ondo State.

“Governing without results”

Speaking on the theme “Governing Without Results: Public Administration, Leadership and Institutional Failure in Nigeria. Quo Vadis?”, Prof. Osezua argued that Nigeria’s core problem is not a lack of talent or resources, but a failure to use them effectively.

“Nigeria’s tragedy is not the absence of institutions, talent, or resources, but the failure to mobilise them with integrity, discipline, competence, and developmental clarity.”

He added that governance in the country has often failed to translate into measurable outcomes for citizens.

Why it matters

According to the professor, weak leadership and administrative systems have far-reaching consequences for both the economy and everyday life.

He identified key challenges including:

Leadership deficits

Corruption and political opportunism

Bureaucratic inefficiency

Judicial fragility

Weak public trust

These issues, he said, continue to limit growth and undermine confidence in public institutions.

Path to reform

Despite the challenges, Prof. Osezua said Nigeria’s situation is “not irreversible”, outlining several reforms needed to rebuild trust and drive development.

His recommendations include:

Restoring merit in public service recruitment and promotion

Enforcing accountability and consequences for misconduct

Adopting results-based governance

Expanding e-governance and digital administration

Reducing the cost of governance

Reprioritising public spending toward development

He also called for strengthening democratic institutions and tackling corruption more decisively.

Broader societal role

The professor stressed that national renewal must go beyond government.

He urged:

Academia to drive innovation and policy solutions

Traditional and religious institutions to support social values

Citizens to re-engage with governance

He also advocated restructuring Nigeria’s federal system to address long-standing imbalances.

Institutional response

The Vice-Chancellor of OAUSTECH, Temi Ologunorisa, described the lecture as timely and impactful.

“A fantastic presentation meant to address leadership decay and administrative imbalances.”

He called on policymakers and public sector leaders to adopt the recommendations as part of efforts toward national renewal.

Industry and public perspectives

Public administration experts say the lecture reflects long-standing concerns about governance in Nigeria, particularly the gap between policy formulation and implementation.

Analysts note that adopting results-based governance and strengthening institutions could improve investor confidence, service delivery, and economic stability.

What’s next

Whether these recommendations translate into policy remains uncertain, but experts agree that institutional reform will be critical as Nigeria seeks sustainable growth.

The lecture drew a wide audience, including scholars, government officials, legal experts, and students—highlighting growing interest in governance reform.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has rejected allegations that its officers extorted ₦100,000 from commercial bus drivers, following an internal investigation that found no evidence of wrongdoing.

The agency also called on media organisations to prioritise accuracy and verification, warning that false reports could damage public trust in government institutions.

Investigation Findings

Speaking after the probe, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the allegations were thoroughly examined by an investigative panel.

He explained that the vehicles involved were penalised for traffic violations, not extortion.

“The panel’s findings unequivocally established that the vehicles in question were apprehended for wilful obstruction, in contravention of extant traffic regulations,” he said.

According to him, all payments made by the drivers were legitimate and properly remitted to government accounts.

“These findings… decisively debunk the allegations of extortion,” he added.

Why It Matters

Traffic enforcement agencies like LASTMA play a key role in managing congestion in Lagos, one of Africa’s busiest urban centres.

Allegations of misconduct can erode public trust and discourage compliance with traffic laws.

At the same time, inaccurate reporting could mislead the public and damage institutional credibility.

Media Responsibility and Public Trust

Bakare-Oki stressed the importance of responsible journalism in a democratic society.

He described the media as essential in shaping public understanding and promoting civic responsibility.

“The dissemination of unverified claims and sensational narratives constitutes a grave threat to institutional credibility and public trust,” he said.

He urged journalists to adopt strict fact-checking practices before publishing reports.

Public Reaction and Expert View

Some media analysts say the situation highlights the tension between accountability reporting and misinformation risks.

Road users, meanwhile, often complain about enforcement practices, making transparency critical for agencies like LASTMA.

What’s Next

LASTMA says it will continue engaging with the media and the public through official channels.

The agency highlighted its toll-free hotline (080000527862) and a Physical Complaints Unit (PCU) where citizens can report incidents or verify claims.

It also reiterated its commitment to openness and accountability.

Nigeria’s push to establish state police must begin with a deep review of the country’s policing failures, according to the chairman of the Police Service Commission.

Hashimu Salihu Argungu, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, made the call when he received members of the Committee for the Implementation of State Police at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The delegation, led by Olu Ogunsakin, said it was consulting the commission to draw on its institutional experience as Nigeria explores a major reform of its policing system.

The committee is tasked with proposing a framework for how state police structures would operate, including recruitment, training standards and resource allocation.

Why the State Police Debate Matters

Calls for state police have grown louder in recent years amid concerns over rising insecurity and the limits of a centrally controlled policing system.

Nigeria currently operates a single national police force — the Nigeria Police Force — which critics say is overstretched in a country of more than 200 million people.

Supporters of state police argue that decentralising law enforcement could improve response times and local intelligence gathering.

But opponents warn that such a system could be abused by political leaders at the state level.

PSC Chairman: “Find out what went wrong”

Speaking during the meeting, Mr Argungu urged the committee to first diagnose the root causes of the current policing challenges.

“Find out what went wrong that necessitated the quest for the creation of state police,” he advised.

He said the committee should carefully examine the relationship between federal and state offences and the broader legal framework guiding policing in Nigeria.

The PSC chairman also warned that some laws guiding policing may no longer be relevant.

He stressed the need to review whether certain statutes had become obsolete in the 21st century.

Committee Seeks PSC’s Experience

Professor Ogunsakin said the committee recognised the commission’s experience in the policing sector.

“We cannot do it alone without tapping from the wisdom of the PSC,” he said.

“We are here to tap from your wealth of knowledge regarding the task before us to review the landscape, structure, and foundation to assist the Nigeria Police Force to move forward.”

He described Mr Argungu as a “fountain of knowledge”.

Learning from Global Models

Mr Argungu also encouraged the committee to examine how state policing works in other countries.

He said studying global models could help Nigeria avoid mistakes and adapt effective practices.

The chairman advised the committee to analyse the challenges faced by other countries operating decentralised policing systems before designing a Nigerian model.

He also urged members not to rush the process.

The committee, he said, should request more time if necessary to produce a well-considered framework.

Who Was Present

Several members of the commission’s board attended the meeting.

They included:

Paul Adamu Galumje, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, representing the judiciary.

Taiwo Lakanu, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

Onyemuche Nnamani, Secretary to the commission.

What Happens Next

The state police committee is expected to produce recommendations that will guide government decisions on whether and how state police could be established.

Any final decision would likely require constitutional amendments and legislative approval.

For many Nigerians, the debate is ultimately about whether a decentralised policing system could improve safety and accountability across the country.