Nigeria’s Federal Government has formally identified a group of poorly performing ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) whose weak service delivery is directly undermining Nigeria’s business climate, according to the 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Performance Report released under the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
At the bottom of the rankings is the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, which placed 53rd out of 53 agencies with an overall performance score of just 3.0 percent. It was followed by Service Compact (SERVICOM) at 12.6 percent (52nd) and the National Identity Management Commission at 12.7 percent (51st).
Other agencies clustered near the bottom include the Joint Tax Board, National Bureau of Statistics, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Postal Service, all of which recorded sub-20 percent scores.
Why Poor Performance Matters for Businesses and Investors
The BFA report links low scores to tangible economic costs, not bureaucratic optics. Agencies that performed poorly consistently failed to meet service-level agreements, respond to enquiries, or resolve complaints submitted via the ReportGov.ng platform.
For businesses, this translates into:
Longer processing times for permits, registrations, and approvals
Higher informal compliance costs, including repeated visits and follow-ups
Delayed investment decisions, particularly for SMEs and foreign investors
Operational uncertainty, where published timelines do not reflect reality
In critical agencies such as identity management, tax coordination, aviation services, and postal logistics, weak service delivery can stall onboarding of customers, disrupt supply chains, and raise transaction risk across the economy.
PEBEC noted that several low-ranking agencies recorded 0 percent efficiency compliance, meaning they failed entirely to deliver services within legally mandated timelines—despite having published requirements.
Best Performers Show What Is Possible
In sharp contrast, the report highlights a small group of MDAs whose performance demonstrates that effective public service delivery is achievable within Nigeria’s system.
Leading the 2025 rankings were:
Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board – 90.6% (1st)
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency – 89.3% (2nd)
Nigeria Customs Service – 86.6% (3rd)
Nigerian Communications Commission – 85.3% (4th)
Nigerian Ports Authority – 84.2% (5th)
These agencies consistently met service timelines, responded to enquiries, resolved complaints, and performed strongly in mystery shopping exercises that tested real user experience.
PEBEC said high-performing agencies typically combine digitised workflows, strong leadership accountability, and internal performance monitoring, creating a widening gap between reform leaders and laggards.
Pressure Mounts for Enforcement in 2026
While the BFA report stops short of announcing sanctions, officials say the rankings will inform leadership interventions, process redesign, and enforcement actions in 2026, particularly for agencies that have remained at the bottom of the table across multiple assessment cycles.
With Nigeria positioning itself as an investment destination amid tax reforms, bank recapitalisation, and FX liberalisation, analysts warn that persistently weak service delivery by core agencies risks neutralising policy gains elsewhere in the economy.
