Nigeria has been ranked 116th in the 2025 edition of the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), a global benchmark that measures how capable and effective national governments are across the world. The ranking, released by the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG), shows Nigeria’s continued struggles with governance and public sector reforms.
The CGGI assesses 113 countries based on seven pillars that reflect leadership quality, policy frameworks, institutional strength, financial management, global reputation, and the ability to improve citizens’ welfare. Nigeria’s scores showed weaknesses in nearly all categories, highlighting the deep challenges policymakers face in strengthening governance.
Specifically, Nigeria ranked 110th in Leadership and Foresight, 112th in Robust Laws and Policies, 114th in Strong Institutions, 89th in Financial Stewardship, 114th in Attractive Marketplace, 112th in Global Influence and Reputation, and 120th in Helping People Rise. The relatively better ranking in Financial Stewardship placed Nigeria ahead of some peers, but its overall performance revealed that the country still lags behind in building effective institutions and improving service delivery.
In Africa, Nigeria also failed to secure a place among the top five countries. Mauritius, Rwanda, Botswana, Morocco, and South Africa were ranked as the best performers on the continent. These countries were credited with stronger governance systems, policy stability, and institutional resilience, which enabled them to maintain higher levels of public trust and effective government capability.
The CGGI report further explained that out of the 28 African countries assessed, only Tanzania and Rwanda recorded significant improvements between 2021 and 2025. Most others either stagnated or fell behind, including Nigeria. The report added that while Africa as a region showed some progress in building stronger institutions, it has struggled with financial management, declining global influence, and weakening support for citizens’ welfare.
“Countries in Africa have seen mixed performance across the CGGI pillars. The region’s average score for Strong Institutions has improved, while those for Financial Stewardship, Global Influence and Reputation, and Helping People Rise have declined. Of most concern is Financial Stewardship, which has experienced the most sustained decline, as fiscal envelopes tighten and government debt burdens bite across the region,” the report noted.
The CGGI also listed African countries included in the 2025 ranking. These are Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Launched in 2021, the Chandler Good Government Index has become one of the most comprehensive global measures of how well governments function. It provides a framework to compare performance across countries and track progress over time, especially on leadership, lawmaking, fiscal discipline, and social impact.
While Nigeria’s performance on the CGGI shows persistent challenges, the country has made modest progress in other governance assessments. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024 ranked Nigeria 140 out of 180 countries, which, although still low, represents a slight improvement compared to past years. Transparency International noted that Nigeria’s corruption perception score reached its highest point in 2016 with 28 points, while its lowest was in 1996 with 6.9 points.
Despite these small gains, governance experts argue that Nigeria’s rankings underscore the urgent need for deeper reforms. Weak institutions, poor policy implementation, low investor confidence, and limited citizen engagement remain obstacles to growth and development. Observers believe that without stronger anti-corruption measures, transparent fiscal management, and a renewed focus on citizens’ welfare, Nigeria may continue to struggle in global governance rankings.
The latest CGGI result also comes at a time when the Nigerian government is pushing for economic reforms aimed at stabilizing public finances and stimulating growth. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has emphasized its commitment to restructuring public institutions and rebuilding confidence in governance, but analysts note that progress has been slow.
With Nigeria’s population projected to rise above 220 million, governance challenges remain central to the country’s ability to achieve stability and sustainable growth. The Chandler ranking serves as a reminder of the work needed to strengthen leadership, enforce laws, and empower institutions that can deliver meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.
