Leadership Effectiveness and Regulatory Performance in the Public Sector: The Experience of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

This paper examined the impact of leadership on the performance of NAFDAC, the agency in charge of pharmaceutical regulation in Nigeria, citing instances from the decade-long tenure of Professor Dora Akunyili, its Director-General from the year 2001. It assessed the transformations in the fortunes of NAFDAC from a non-performing, relatively unknown, back-bencher and unsung regulatory agency to a vibrant, popular, internationally-celebrated agency within a few years as a result of the leadership provided for the agency by the leader and her leadership team. The paper observed that the dramatic changes in the accomplishment of the regulatory agency since 2001 when Akunyili took over as Director-General can be traced to personal leader characteristics, a good understanding of the situation, a followership already yearning for change, a favourable political environment and the leadership’s appreciation of the political dimensions of regulation. While noting the various challenges facing the agency in its quest for more relevance and greater achievements, particularly the lack of effective co-operation and collaboration by relevant stakeholders, the paper concludes that the agency can advance further by improving on its performance with determination and march ahead to achieve its objectives by embracing greater dialogue with relevant stakeholders, maintaining effective collaboration with local and international stakeholders and by maintaining discipline, motivation and internal cohesion.