VP Shettima: Our Institutional Policy Reforms Will Solve 80% Of Nigeria’s Bureaucratic Challenges

** Says President Tinubu engraving new era of economic discipline, policy clarity

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said there is an urgent need for institutional reforms as the foundation for solving the majority of Nigeria’s public policy challenges.

According to him, strengthening the nation’s institutional frameworks would address 80 per cent of Nigeria’s public policy challenges.

The Vice President stated this on Monday during the official presentation of the draft National Public Policy Development and Management Framework by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination/Head of the Central Results Delivery and Coordination Unit (CDCU), Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman.

VP Shettima described the new policy framework as a transformative approach that has been “long overdue” in Nigeria’s governance architecture.

“If we get our institutional frameworks right, we will solve 80% of our public policy challenges. This approach is long overdue,” he said.

The Vice President called for a national reset in the way public policy is conceived, communicated, and implemented, noting that the mitochondria of every government is a workable national public policy.

Commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, VP Shettima praised the President’s unique blend of public and private sector experience and his readiness to implement bold reforms.

“For the first time, we have a leader who understands the dynamics and speaks the language of economics. He has the courage to take far-reaching decisions. We cannot but commend President Tinubu for his very promising reforms across all sectors of the national economy,” he said.

The Vice President also stressed the importance of policy clarity and communication, pointing out that reforms must be clearly understood by the public and consistently implemented across all tiers of government.

Highlighting the role of e-governance and digitisation, VP Shettima advocated for data-driven policy execution and real-time monitoring, just as he also called for enforceable consequences within the policy framework.

“There must be targets and deliverables; if people fail to perform, they should be made to pay the price. Implementation without accountability is another word for lunacy. People must be made to account for their stewardship,” the VP said.

Emphasising the need to build strong institutions over reliance on individual leaders, the Senator drew a leaf from former United States President Barack Obama, saying, “Like former President Barack Obama said, what nations need is not strong characters or leaders, but strong institutions — institutions guided by strong, fair, and acceptable laws.”

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, told the Vice President that the draft National Policy Development Framework was conceived by the realisation that the federal government had no document that conceptualised government policies.

“It is interesting, Your Excellency, to know that at the beginning of this administration, it was quite baffling that the federal government did not have a guiding document which specifies the process by which policies should be conceptualised.

“Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of government had been operating in silos, often producing overlapping and outdated policies. This has led to fragmentation, policy inconsistency, duplication of efforts, and ultimately inefficiency in the government’s endeavours.

“These challenges have not only impeded the realisation of government goals, but it has also weakened public trust and discouraged investor confidence. Recognising this urgency and the need to address these systemic issues is what enabled us, as a team, to initiate this process,” she stated.

Hajiya Usman, however, expressed confidence that the Draft National Policy Development Framework will address deep-rooted challenges of policy management and lack of coherence and consistency across MDAs.

The Draft National Policy Development Framework, she noted, is the result of extensive collaboration between her office, Office of the Vice President, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the National Economic Summit Group.

The Presidential Aide assured that with the input of the Vice President, the draft framework will provide the much-needed clarity, structure, and coherence that will enable the development of policies with clear intent.

VP Shettima: Our Institutional Policy Reforms Will Solve 80% Of Nigeria’s Bureaucratic Challenges

China Expresses Willingness to Strengthen Cultural Exchanges with Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

China has been expressed willingness to strengthen its cultural exchanges as well as cooperation in culture, tourism, education, creative economy with Nigeria.

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai gave the indication at the weekend during the occasion marking the United Nations International Tea Day.

The “Tea for Harmony — Yaji Cultural Salon” brought together officials and friends of China-Nigeria.

The event featured a range of cultural performances, including elegant Yue Opera and pipa music by Chinese artists, as well as Chinese calligraphy and painting exhibitions and experience sessions.

The celebration highlighted the significance of Chinese tea culture in bridging the two nations’ civilizations and touched on the recent flourishing of China-Nigeria tea trade, with Hainan Baisha tea making its debut in the Nigerian market in 2024.

The Ambassador said the coming year is the ‘China-Africa Year of Cultural Exchange.

He said: “The Embassy will always be committed to strengthening exchanges and cooperation in culture, tourism, education, creative economy and other fields to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.”

The envoy added that China-Nigeria cultural exchanges show the important historical mission of promoting mutual learning between civilizations and connecting hearts and minds of the two countries.

He added that: “Last year, the two heads of state met in Beijing and jointly agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. We are now implementing the three-year (2025-2027) ‘Ten Partnership Actions for Modernization to deepen China-Africa Cooperation’ with Nigeria and fellow 52 African countries. And cultural exchange is a very important part of this initiative.

“The year 2026 is the ‘China-Africa Year of Cultural and People-to-People Exchange’, and China-Nigeria cultural exchanges shoulder the important historical mission of promoting mutual learning between civilizations and connecting hearts and minds of the two countries.

“President Xi Jinping emphasized, exchanges and Mutual Learning Make Civilizations Richer and More Colorful.”

The envoy also expressed his pleasure at the increasing closer cooperation between the two countries in culture, tourism, education and many other fields.
He added: “Nigerian students learn tea art and opera in China and showcase Nigerian music and dance culture in China; Chinese volunteers promote Chinese language and tea culture in Nigeria and learn local languages and cultures; from the historical legacy of the ‘Ten-Thousand-Mile Tea Route’ to the future vision of the ‘Digital Silk Road’, culture has always served as the bond connecting the peoples of China and Nigeria.”

Yu described tea as a symbol of peace, connection, and mutual respect.
“China and Nigeria have many common cultural values, and tea represents harmony, connection, and respect.

“This platform allows us to interact more deeply with the Nigerian people, exchanging not just beverages, but values and ideas,” he said.

The Ambassador also reiterated China’s readiness to partner with Nigeria in value-added agricultural production, especially through tea-related trade, agro-processing, and cultural tourism initiatives.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Culture and Creative Economy expressed support for initiatives that position culture as both a source of identity and an engine for economic growth. “This event is an eye-opener. We must put in place laws that strengthen cultural identity and also position culture as an economic driver,” he stated.
Stressing the importance of media in promoting and exporting Nigeria’s cultural wealth to the global stage.

In his remarks, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy, Dr. Muhktar Mohamm, expressed Nigeria’s readiness to harness the creative and economic opportunities offered by tea culture.

Mohammed said “We are supporting creative industries centered around tea. By promoting festivals and developing tea-themed tourism, Nigeria can tap into the global tea economy while preserving local culture.”
Also speaking, Ms. Olubunmi Olowookere, Permanent Secretary of the FCT Social Development Secretariat, described tea as “a symbol of peace and patience,” emphasizing its role in transcending boundaries and bringing communities together.

Dr. Mohammed Bulama, Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), represented by his special assistant, Alhaji Suleiman Musa, described the event as an opportunity to highlight our values, talents, and potential to a global audience.

China Expresses Willingness to Strengthen Cultural Exchanges with Nigeria

VAPP Act @10: Be Ready for Strong Bite, Increased Prosecution of Sex Offenders- NAPTIP DG

By: Michael Mike

Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello has promised a strong bite, increased prosecution of sex offenders, proactive implementation of the provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, 2015 to enhance the protection of Nigerians from issues of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV).

She gave the promise at the agency’s headquarters, Abuja, while speaking on the 10th year anniversary of the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, 2015.

The VAPP Act, which was designed to eliminate violence in public and private life, prohibits all forms of violence against persons and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims, and punishment for perpetrators, was passed on May 25th, 2015, and is being implemented by NAPTIP.

The Act is applicable within the Federal Capital Territory and already domesticated by several states across the country.

The Director General, who hailed the efficacy of the Act, said: “Today marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards a just, inclusive, and violence-free society. The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, signed into law in 2015, is 10 years old. This landmark legislation remains one of Nigeria’s most comprehensive legal frameworks for the protection of human rights, especially for women, children, and other vulnerable groups.

“As the Director General of NAPTIP, I am immensely proud to announce a decade of impactful implementation of the VAPP Law, which has been domesticated and gazetted by 32 states across Nigeria.

“Over the past 10 years, we have raised the bar for justice and given voice to the voiceless, empowering survivors of violence to seek redress. We have protected the vulnerable, restored dignity to victims, and enhanced support systems for survivors of abuse.We have contributed to the restoration of peace and harmony in homes, communities, and institutions affected by gender-based violence.

“We have fought relentlessly to end the culture of silence and impunity, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable under the law.

“The journey has not been without challenges, but our resolve has remained unshaken. With the unwavering support of our partners, stakeholders, and civil society, NAPTIP has successfully secured 25 convictions of perpetrators, including two life imprisonment sentences of high-profile individuals in Nigeria, with over 1557 cases in courts and provided support to over 5000survivors through shelters, legal aid, psychosocial services, and reintegration programmes.

“As we celebrate this 10-year milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthened enforcement of the VAPP Act across all States of the Federation by scaling up advocacy and enlightenment to ensure that every Nigerian understands their rights under this law, collaboration with traditional, religious, and community leaders to deepen grassroots impact, and a proactive, data-driven approach to tackling all forms of violence, especially those rooted in harmful cultural and gender norms”, she stated.

The Director General thanked the Federal Ministry of Justice and the entire Judiciary for sustained support to the agency in implementing the Act, the partnering Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Development Partners, members of the Civil Society Organization (CSOs), the Media, and other stakeholders for their collaboration and partnership with NAPTIP, which have culminated in the successful implementation of the legislation.

“While extending our heartfelt gratitude to all who have walked this journey with us and survivors whichcontinue to show courage, the law enforcement officers, healthcare workers, legal advocates, development partners, and the general public, we promise double portion of trouble for perpetrators in the years ahead”, the DG said.

VAPP Act @10: Be Ready for Strong Bite, Increased Prosecution of Sex Offenders- NAPTIP DG