Ex-presidential adviser Kassey Garba retires from UI, warns on debt trap

A former Chief Economic Adviser to the President and Professor of Economics at the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Kassey Garba, has called for a review of Nigeria’s public finance system and structural governance amid concerns over the country’s debt trajectory and administrative inefficiencies.

Garba made the remarks during her valedictory lecture held on the university campus to mark her retirement after more than four decades of service in academia and public policy. The lecture, titled “Exploring Development in Africa – My Journey Across Academia, the Field, and the Public Sector”, was delivered at the Faculty of Law’s Large Lecture Theatre.

In her address, Garba criticised the coordination of Nigeria’s public sector, describing it as fragmented and susceptible to manipulation. “The so-called ‘development partners’ have been successful in building a Nigerian support base for uncontrolled external borrowing that inevitably leads to a long-term debt trap,” she said.

She recounted her experience in government, noting that the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President under her leadership resisted pressure from international lenders. According to her, the office submitted memos discouraging unsustainable loans and outlining the risks of excessive debt accumulation. She expressed concern that such recommendations were often disregarded due to institutional and political limitations.

Garba also drew attention to what she described as persistent fiscal indiscipline, citing budget inflation and a disregard for measurable outcomes. “Public servants often used travel allowances to supplement meagre wages,” she said, while urging that government either adjusts wages to reflect living standards or recalibrates performance expectations.

Addressing issues of governance, she argued that the current system encourages foreign interference and weakens citizen agency. “The global political economy favours ‘idiots’ and ‘tribalists’ over patriotic citizens,” she said, warning that African leaders who resist these dynamics often face severe consequences.

The lecture was chaired by Prof. Ademola Oyejide of UI’s Department of Economics. A Festschrift was also unveiled in Garba’s honour.

The event drew tributes from several scholars, including Prof. Afolabi Soyode, Prof. Remi Awopegba, Prof. Akin Iwayemi, and Prof. Adeola Adenikinju. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, was represented by Prof. Peter Olapegba, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), who acknowledged Garba’s contributions to the university.

Prof. Garba’s husband, Prof. Ajani Garba, expressed appreciation to colleagues and guests at the event.

Source: Guardian Nigeria | Continue to Full Story…