Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi Branch, Joseph Gbagyo, has called for more people-centred governance, saying Nigerians should begin to experience tangible improvements in public services despite the economic pressures associated with ongoing government reforms.
Gbagyo spoke in Makurdi as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence anniversary.
He urged citizens not to lose hope in the country while acknowledging concerns over inflation, insecurity, healthcare, road infrastructure and declining living standards.
According to the NBA Chairman, political leaders have a responsibility to govern with empathy and ensure that constitutional objectives relating to education, social amenities, healthcare and a habitable environment translate into practical benefits for citizens.
He described the subdued atmosphere surrounding the Independence celebration as reflective, in his view, of wider public dissatisfaction with current economic conditions.
Subsidy removal and state revenues
Gbagyo also commented on the economic consequences of fuel subsidy removal.
He said the policy has increased financial resources available to many states but argued that citizens should see corresponding improvements in social protection and public services.
Some states, he said, have taken steps to cushion the effects of current reforms, while others have not done enough.
He characterised the economic reforms as difficult and said ordinary citizens were presently bearing much of the burden. Those remarks represent Gbagyo’s assessment of the policies and their effects, not an independent finding by LegalLinkz.
The broader legal and governance question concerns how increased public revenue is translated into fulfilment of the state’s obligations and policy objectives.
Nigeria’s Constitution contains Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy addressing matters including welfare, education and governance, although the scope of their judicial enforceability differs from fundamental rights provisions.
For the NBA Chairman, however, the immediate concern is practical rather than theoretical: citizens should be able to see improvements in their daily lives.
‘Do not give up on Nigeria’
Despite his criticisms, Gbagyo urged Nigerians to continue working towards national improvement rather than abandoning hope.
He argued that the country’s challenges require both accountable leadership and collective commitment from citizens.
His comments form part of wider interventions by NBA branches on issues extending beyond lawyers’ immediate professional interests into governance, constitutional responsibility and the social conditions affecting access to justice.
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Source: Peoples Gazette
