The Federal Government is set to introduce a performance-based framework to hold Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) accountable for measurable results, while eliminating overlapping regulations, multiple fees and bureaucratic bottlenecks that increase the cost of doing business in Nigeria. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the initiative on during a strategic engagement with heads of agencies and senior government officials at the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja, according to statement issued by Director of information in the ministry of finance, Mrs Efe Ovuakporie. Oyedele said the next phase of Nigeria’s economic reforms must extend beyond macroeconomic stabilisation to addressing the everyday challenges businesses and investors face in their dealings with government institutions. He stressed that public agencies must facilitate business operations, investment and expansion rather than create unnecessary obstacles through conflicting regulations, duplicated requirements and cumbersome administrative procedures.

Under the proposed framework, the government will adopt a “One Government” approach that requires MDAs to coordinate their activities and streamline regulatory processes, particularly where their statutory responsibilities overlap. Oyedele said the objective was to ensure that businesses and other applicants were not subjected to multiple demands from different government institutions for the same services or approvals. Where regulatory mandates overlap, he said, agencies should work towards a system of one lead agency, one process and one fee to reduce compliance costs and improve the ease of doing business. The minister also urged agencies to consult relevant stakeholders before introducing new regulations, evaluate the economic implications of proposed policies and coordinate with other institutions to avoid conflicting directives.

He further called for reasonable notice before major policy or regulatory changes take effect, noting the need for businesses to prepare adequately for new requirements. On public financial management, Oyedele directed agencies to remit all revenues due to the government promptly and in full, transfer operating surpluses to the Consolidated Revenue Fund and submit their audited accounts in accordance with existing laws.

He said the performance of agencies would no longer be assessed solely by their activities or administrative processes but by measurable outcomes, including the speed of service delivery, compliance with published timelines and reductions in the cost of regulatory procedures. According to him, the proposed framework is intended to strengthen institutional accountability and ensure that public agencies deliver services efficiently while supporting economic growth and private-sector development. The minister acknowledged, however, that the Ministry of Finance must also address internal administrative obstacles, including slow approvals, delayed fund releases and outdated rules, stressing that the ministry would be subject to the same performance expectations. As part of the implementation process, the ministry will review submissions from participating agencies and provide specific feedback within four to six weeks. The draft framework will subsequently be circulated for further consultation, after which each agency is expected to agree to measurable performance commitments.

Implementation will be reviewed periodically to assess progress and identify areas requiring corrective action. The initiative comes as the Federal Government seeks to translate the gains of its economic reforms into improved business conditions, stronger investor confidence and increased private-sector activity. By reducing regulatory duplication, streamlining administrative procedures and linking agency performance to measurable outcomes, the government hopes to enable businesses to devote less time and resources to navigating bureaucracy and more to investment, expansion and job creation.