Ex-Minister Usman: Nigeria’s Social Contract Has Collapsed as Leaders Prioritise Self-Interest
A former Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, has criticised Nigerian political leaders for putting personal interests above the welfare of citizens, warning that the country’s social contract has effectively collapsed.
Speaking at the Development as Attitude: A National Dialogue Series in Kaduna on Thursday, Usman lamented that while Nigeria has maintained 26 years of democratic continuity with functioning elections, political parties and institutions, governance lacks integrity, accountability, citizen participation and respect for the rule of law. According to him, what exists is only the “form” of democracy without the “substance.”
He noted that the social contract between the state and its people has broken down, as government fails to provide basic rights such as security, education and healthcare in return for taxes and civic responsibility. Politics, he argued, has become self-serving, with leaders more focused on power than on delivering dignity and social welfare to citizens.
Although he acknowledged progress such as the defeat of the third term agenda in 2006 and the historic 2015 concession by a sitting president, Usman stressed that Nigerian politics remains dominated by politicians’ interests rather than the people’s needs. He also described the erosion of law and order as a tragedy, warning that corruption and political scandals continue unchecked because there is no real accountability.
Other speakers at the event, organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group in partnership with the Gates Foundation under the Hamilton Project, echoed similar concerns. Dr. Habiba Lawal, a former presidential adviser, called for greater transparency and courageous decision-making in the public interest. Professor Maryam Abdu of Kaduna State University argued that leadership without integrity fuels corruption and erodes values, while Ishaya Idi, President of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, stressed that without vision and planning, both citizens’ and businesses’ efforts would be wasted. Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, represented by Lawal Al-Hassan Habib, said the Hamilton Project’s focus on responsibility aligns with the state’s reforms, noting that development must be driven by both leaders and citizens working together.
Concluding his remarks, Usman urged Nigeria to urgently restore trust between the governed and those in power. He warned that unless the social contract is rebuilt, citizens will continue to distrust leaders, leaders will continue to neglect citizens, and true development will remain elusive.
