British envoy backs reforms by Tinubu despite public hardship, urging strong civil service to drive long-term growth and job creation across Nigeria
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has commended the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing them as bold, necessary, and already showing signs of progress despite short-term discomfort.
Speaking at the international civil service conference held Thursday at Eagle Square, Abuja, Montgomery praised the federal government for its courage in implementing sweeping policies designed to reposition Nigeria’s economy for sustainable growth.
“In my two years here as High Commissioner, I have been so impressed by the courage of Nigerian leaders to tackle difficult issues and launch the big and bold economic reforms now underway, however painful they may be in the short term,” Montgomery said.
He noted that while citizens are grappling with hardship due to inflation and rising living costs, the reforms—including fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange unification, and investment liberalisation—are laying a stronger foundation for future prosperity.
“I am very confident that these reforms, which are already showing an impact, are absolutely essential for putting Nigeria onto a higher growth path and for creating the jobs and opportunities that I know, Your Excellency, you are seeking for your country,” he added.
These reforms, however painful now, are essential for long-term growth and opportunity.
Montgomery stressed that economic reforms alone will not address all institutional challenges, but they must be paired with strong performance from civil servants at federal and state levels to ensure the benefits reach the Nigerian people.
“These reforms are not a solution to all the challenges that civil servants—my fellow public servants in this room—manage daily across the vast responsibilities of government. But I have no doubt that civil servants are absolutely essential in delivering reform outcomes,” he said.
Highlighting the role of public service efficiency, he referenced global examples including India, China, and Singapore, whose economic transformations were enabled by institutional reform and administrative capacity.
Montgomery reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s support for Nigeria’s development goals and said institutional partnerships would remain a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation.
The civil service conference gathered top officials, diplomats, and development experts to examine Nigeria’s reform trajectory, capacity building, and the evolving role of governance in economic transformation.
