Nigeria has ranked 116th out of 113 countries in the 2025 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), exposing persistent governance challenges and weak institutional capacity.
The index, released by the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG), remains one of the most comprehensive measures of national government effectiveness worldwide.
The report assessed countries across seven pillars. Nigeria placed 110th in Leadership and Foresight, 112th in Robust Laws and Policies, and 114th in Strong Institutions.
It did slightly better in Financial Stewardship at 89th, but slipped again in Attractive Marketplace (114th), Global Influence and Reputation (112th), and Helping People Rise (120th).
Africa’s Top Performers Leave Nigeria Behind
The top five African countries in the 2025 ranking are Mauritius, Rwanda, Botswana, Morocco, and South Africa. These nations continue to show stronger governance frameworks and more resilient institutions.
Of the 28 African countries assessed, only Rwanda and Tanzania recorded visible improvements between 2021 and 2025. Nigeria, along with several others, dropped further down the ladder.
The report stated: “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 & Reputation, and Helping People Rise, have declined.”
It added: “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.”
Nigeria’s Governance and Corruption Struggles
The Chandler Index paints a stark picture, but Nigeria also recorded a slight improvement in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by Transparency International.
Nigeria ranked 140th out of 180 countries, based on public sector corruption levels using data from institutions such as the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
Nigeria’s corruption scores reached a peak of 28 points in 2016 and a low of 6.90 points in 1996. While the CPI movement shows a modest gain, the CGGI indicates that systemic reforms remain far from reality.
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