Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has openly admitted that political calculations ahead of the 2027 general election are limiting his ability to take tough decisions in government.
The governor said concerns about re-election have restrained him from removing political appointees who are not performing to expectation.
Bago made the revelation on Friday while inaugurating newly appointed commissioners alongside elected chairmen and vice-chairmen of local government areas across the state.
He told the gathering that the fear of political backlash has made decisive action difficult, even when such action is necessary for effective governance.
The governor argued that Nigeria’s political structure encourages hesitation and compromises performance in public office.
According to him, too much attention is placed on future elections instead of present responsibilities, a situation he believes weakens leadership at all levels.
“I am an advocate of a single term of governance. Everything in Nigeria is now being tied to politics. There are things I would have done today, but I am deferring them until after the election,” Bago said.
He explained that some officials under his administration had consistently failed assessments and lacked the capacity to move the system forward, yet remained in office due to political considerations. He described such officials as a burden on governance and development.
“If I had a single term, I would have been more decisive. Special advisers, board directors, and others would have given their best because they would have just one shot in governance.”
Governor Bago further identified procrastination as a major problem affecting leadership in Nigeria. He warned that constant focus on future political ambitions has replaced urgency and accountability in public service.
“Everybody is thinking about tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. Our tomorrow is today.”
Beyond political reforms, the governor also spoke on security.
He expressed strong support for state and community policing, insisting that decentralising security operations would improve safety and fairness in society.
“State police is a reality. We need community policing to ensure social justice and safety in our society,” he added.