Beyond the Ballot: Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Calls for Democracy That Delivers Real Economic Gains
By Matthew Eloyi
The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) has urged a shift in how Nigeria’s democratic progress is assessed, stressing that tangible economic outcomes and effective public institutions should be the true benchmarks of success.
The foundation’s Executive Director, Ann Iyonu, made this known on Thursday in Abuja during a national convening and the formal launch of a report titled “Strengthening the Nexus between Democracy and Economic Growth in Nigeria.”
Delivering her keynote address, Iyonu observed that 27 years after Nigeria’s return to civilian rule, the “promise of democracy” remains largely unmet, citing widespread poverty, fiscal indiscipline and procurement fraud.
“Democracy must not be measured by elections alone but by results, by schools that function, by clinics and hospitals that work, infrastructure that lasts and, of course, institutions that deliver.
“So while our democracy is durable with all its imperfections and flaws, the task before us today is to make it effective.
“For if we can compel governance to deliver, then democracy will not only survive, it will thrive and our economy will thrive with it. That is the true dividend we must secure,” Iyonu said.
She argued that Nigeria’s core challenge is not the absence of laws or regulatory agencies, but weak enforcement, calling for a transition toward a system where institutions uphold rules and deliver measurable benefits to citizens.
“What we have as Nigerians is not an absence or lack of laws or agencies, our challenge is enforcement, and that is why we speak today of democracy dividend.
“Democracy is good for our economy when institutions uphold their own rules, when fiscal discipline is real, when procurement is transparent, when audits lead to action and when reforms survive political turnover.
“These are not lofty or abstract ideas; they are the very foundations of growth, jobs and opportunity.
“So my call to action today is that we enforce the rules we already have and ensure that Nigeria’s democracy delivers not only continuity but prosperity and opportunity for all,” she said.
Iyonu added that the foundation’s report outlines a 10-point policy roadmap for government, including enforcing fiscal ceilings, digitising procurement processes to curb corruption, strengthening audit mechanisms and linking institutional reforms directly to service delivery.
Also speaking, Governance Advisor at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Matthew Ayebakuro, highlighted the strong link between democratic governance and economic growth.
Ayebakuro noted that public confidence in democracy depends largely on whether institutions deliver jobs, services and a sense of shared progress.
“Democratic institutions are seen to deliver for them, whether that is in terms of jobs, services, opportunities or just a sense of shared progress.
“Democracy matters not only as a system of political participation and accountability but also because of the institutional foundation that it provides, such as transparency, rule of law, checks and balances and responsive governance, which are all critical for sustainability.
“At the same time, democracy must be developmental in practice, not just procedural in form, if it is to endure and retain public trust.
“This is what academics would refer to as not just the intrinsic value but the instrumental value of democratic governance,” he said.
He commended former President Goodluck Jonathan and the foundation for advancing dialogue on governance, peace and inclusive development across Nigeria and the African continent.
Ayebakuro expressed optimism that the forum would spur policymakers, legislators, civil society and development partners to take concrete steps toward strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
He also reaffirmed the commitment of development partners to support reforms that ensure economic growth benefits all citizens.
The event, which drew policymakers, legislators and civil society groups, concluded with a call for stakeholders to move beyond dialogue and research to the practical enforcement of existing rules in order to secure prosperity for all Nigerians,