Written by Adenike Oke
How are pertinent issues that require the attention of the Government determined?
What criteria is required to declare an issue fit to be elevated into a public policy?
Most importantly, what or who sets the agenda that goes through that cycle?
On the 9th of March 2026, an Instagram user with the handle; @darkskinned.ella made a reel about the long queues she has to face before getting to work as a 9 to 5er. She wakes up by 4am so she can secure a spot on the queue early enough to board the popular BRT in Lagos state. A transportation means that should be preferable as it has its own lane and is expected to be immune to the stressful traffic Lagos roads are known for.
@darkskinned.ella raised her voice and the appropriate office in charge (LAMATA) responded. In spite of the bullying she experienced due to the complaint video going viral, she pushed and something actually happened! By Thursday 12th of March, more buses were provided which eased the queue and invariably ensured passengers got to their destinations in good time. This should be one of many stories Nigerian citizens can tell if;
- We offer feedback and opinions when public policies are being formed.
- The office responsible takes into account the feedback and consults such when making decisions.
It’s possible however, that the change was short-lived but that shouldn’t serve as a deterrent for voicing out feedback, opinions and complaints. Taking a positive stance and mindset is key even as we look forward to permanent change.
Simply put, in an ideal world, citizen feedback shapes public policies. It is the river from which governments fish for agendas to set and push forward. That is why feedback is important. Without adopting citizen feedback, every action of the government will come across as propaganda. It might even be the most vital reason. In a system where two way communication is lacking, policies will miss the mark or worse still be created poorly or insufficiently when meaningful and measurable feedback is missing.
