Policy in Practice

About

Since taking office on May 29th, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has pursued a legislative agenda aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s policy and governance framework. In its first two years, the administration has passed over 40 laws covering sectors such as education, judicial reform, digital governance, national security, infrastructure, economic regulation, labour rights, cultural affairs, and regional development. This body of legislation reflects a mix of ongoing priorities and new directions in Nigeria’s democratic and developmental landscape.

A notable feature of this period is the administration’s focus on structural and institutional reforms. Signature laws include the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralises power generation and paves the way for state-level energy markets; the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act, which aims to expand access to tertiary education for disadvantaged Nigerians; and the Securities and Exchange Commission Reform Act, which updates Nigeria’s financial regulatory framework for a more robust investment climate.

The administration has also pursued inclusion and sub-national equity with the establishment of Development Commissions for all six geopolitical zones, a move that responds to long-standing demands for regional autonomy in development. In parallel, judicial reforms such as increased pensions for judges and added responsibilities for state judicial councils hint at a broader agenda to improve governance from the bench.

Several laws speak directly to the socioeconomic welfare of Nigerians. The newly signed Minimum Wage Amendment Act proposes upward wage adjustments, while laws on consumer protection and local content development aim to strengthen Nigerian industries and labour rights.
Additionally, the Tinubu administration introduced new legal frameworks to align Nigeria’s data and digital ecosystems with global standards through laws governing cybersecurity, AI ethics, and digital transactions.
However, these reforms have not been without contention or complexity. While there is praise for the administration’s legislative productivity and its focus on long-term structural fixes, critics have raised concerns about the pace, cost, and inclusiveness of implementation. Questions linger around whether sub-national governments can deliver on their new mandates or whether the student loan scheme will be transparent. Perhaps most symbolically, the reintroduction of Nigeria’s colonial-era national anthem through legislation sparked intense public and expert debate, revealing tensions between nation-building, nostalgia, and representation.
This report categorises and analyses the laws signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between May 2023 and May 2025. Each section contains a detailed summary of key laws under that domain, the stated or implied policy objectives, proposed or ongoing implementation mechanisms, public reactions, gaps, risks, and challenges that may hinder outcomes.