African Peer Review Mechanism and Nigeria’s Domestic Governance Reform Commitments

This study examines Nigeria's participation in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), a voluntary governance self-assessment instrument under the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) framework, assessing the extent to which APRM review recommendations have been implemented in practice and whether the review process has functioned as a genuine accountability mechanism. Nigeria was among the first African states to sign on to the APRM and has undergone multiple review cycles since 2008. Drawing on African governance theory and international accountability frameworks, this research analyses Nigeria's most recent APRM National Programme of Action and evaluates implementation progress on priority governance, economic, and socio-political reform commitments from 2019 to 2024. The study employs a qualitative methodology, drawing on APRM Country Review Reports, National Governing Council documentation, civil society monitoring reports from the Nigeria APRM Focal Point, and interviews with governance officials. The research examines reform progress across key thematic areas including anti-corruption, public financial management, and electoral integrity. Findings are expected to reveal a significant gap between APRM commitment language and measurable governance improvement outcomes, driven by weak monitoring, limited political will, and inadequate domestic resourcing of the implementation process. Recommendations address structural reforms to strengthen APRM implementation in Nigeria. Keywords: APRM, governance, Nigeria, NEPAD, accountability.