The Nigerian Governors’ Forum has appointed Dr. Abdulateef Shittu as its new Director-General in what it described as a major step to reform its secretariat and reposition the institution for greater efficiency.
The announcement was made on Sunday in a statement signed by Yunusa Abdullahi, who himself was named Director of Media and Strategic Communications of the Forum.
He explained that the changes were part of a comprehensive review carried out by Deloitte, engaged to re-engineer NGF’s internal processes and reinforce its mandate as a policy hub for subnational governments.
“This is not just about filling vacancies,” Abdullahi said. “It marks a deliberate shift toward building an agile, result-driven institution that can respond effectively to Nigeria’s governance challenges.”
As part of the shake-up, seasoned professionals were brought into leadership positions. Abdullahi confirmed that the new appointments cut across finance, policy research, programme management, energy, gender affairs and security, reflecting what he called “a multidisciplinary leadership team designed to drive reforms.”
He added that the Forum was keen on addressing critical issues such as economic transformation, security, human capital development and gender inclusion. “The NGF is committed to aligning with international best practices, and these appointments are evidence of that commitment,” he noted.
A policy analyst in Abuja described the move as timely, saying it underscores a new determination by the Forum to professionalise its operations. “The NGF is evolving from being merely a political bloc to a think-tank for governance at the state level,” the analyst observed.
The NGF, which brings together the 36 state governors in Nigeria, has over the years played a key role in shaping national discourse on fiscal federalism, security and public sector reforms.
