Political consultant and strategist, Temi Okesanjo, recently provided insights on the current challenges facing the nation.
When asked what advice she could give to the President based on her experience advising in the former presidency, Okesanjo remarked, “It’s difficult to provide effective advice without adequate knowledge of internal complexity in the presidency.”
However, she managed to offer some critical recommendations that could bolster the administration’s effectiveness.
In her commentary, Okesanjo emphasised the need for better coordination across the entire government architecture, particularly to ensure that the impact of initiatives meant to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal is both visible and felt by the people.
She pointed out that while the Tinubu administration has introduced several important initiatives, there appears to be a disconnect between these efforts and the impact experienced by the citizens.
Okesanjo also highlighted the crucial role of public relations in the successful implementation of government policies. Citizens must understand what is happening, why it is happening, and how it will benefit them.
This is especially critical in situations where the impact of policies might not be immediately apparent, she said.
Okesanjo made it clear that if the immediate benefits of government initiatives are not yet evident, as some of President Tinubu’s close advisors have suggested, it is essential for the government to communicate the potential long-term impacts in a way that resonates with the public.
“It’s important to manage public perception effectively. A successful government is one that understands how to connect with its citizens,” she said.
Additionally, Okesanjo, when asked about the general out cry about government spending, touched on the need to cut the cost of governance, especially in a country where a good number of people are living in poverty. She believes that this could have been done seamlessly with the right counsel in place. Cost-cutting measures can be implemented without disrupting the day-to-day operations of the government.
She emphasised that there are ways to demonstrate to the public that the government is also making sacrifices, showing solidarity with citizens who are feeling the effects of the subsidy removal.
The fact that such measures have not been taken indicates a lack of strategic know how. There are numerous costs that could be trimmed without significantly impacting governance, and doing so, I believe, will ease public dissatisfaction.”
Okesanjo noted that the absence of visible cost-cutting efforts has led to growing anger, not just among low-income earners, but also within the middle class and even among some elites.
She urged that this matter be taken seriously to restore public trust and confidence in the administration.
Okesanjo, who played a significant role in crisis management and policy implementation in the presidency as a consultant during the previous administration, has just completed her LLM Master of Laws at the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom.
