Kano Emerges Top Performer in GOMEP’s 2025 Governance Index
Kano State has been ranked among Nigeria’s top-performing states in the 2025 Governance Accountability and Transparency Index (GATI) released by the Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers (GOMEP) Nigeria.
The report places Kano in the prestigious Category A – Exceptional Performance, alongside Abia, Borno, Ekiti, Anambra, Kaduna, Osun, Delta, Enugu, and Kogi States. These states were recognized for excellence in transparency, accountability, and institutional effectiveness.
Kano’s Remarkable Turnaround
Kano’s inclusion among the top performers marks a significant leap from its 2024 ranking, where it was classified under Category C – Average Performance with a score of 58.6 points. In the 2025 assessment, the state recorded an impressive 89.1 points, representing a 30.5-point increase and a 52.05 percent improvement—one of the highest nationwide.
Reforms Underpinning Progress
The report attributes this rapid progress to the reform-driven leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose administration has focused on strengthening governance systems and promoting transparency.
Key improvements highlighted include enhanced fiscal transparency and budget processes, stronger public sector accountability mechanisms, increased citizen participation, and the adoption of digital governance tools to improve service delivery.
The state also recorded progress in infrastructure and social development, procurement transparency, and the promotion of media freedom and access to information.
About the GATI Report
The GATI Report is an independent governance assessment framework designed to evaluate transparency, accountability, and institutional performance across Nigeria’s 36 states.
According to GOMEP Nigeria, the 2025 edition is one of the most comprehensive assessments to date, drawing from over 12,600 data entries and approximately 350 governance indicators per state. The methodology includes nationwide surveys, expert evaluations, document reviews, and data-driven analysis, supported by multi-layered verification processes.
States classified under Category A scored between 85 and 100 percent, indicating strong adherence to global governance best practices.
Recognition and Next Steps
GOMEP Nigeria announced that the ten top-performing states will receive Certificates of Exceptional Performance. A delegation from the organization is also scheduled to visit Kano State next month to formally present the report and honour Governor Yusuf.
The visit will include strategic media engagements to showcase the state’s governance reforms and development achievements.
A Model for Other States
Kano’s rise from an average-performing state to one of Nigeria’s governance leaders underscores the impact of deliberate reforms, political will, and institutional discipline.
The report positions Kano as a model for other states seeking to improve transparency, accountability, and citizen-centered governance, reinforcing the role of effective leadership in driving measurable development outcomes.
