Governance Is About Citizens’ Welfare, Not Power – Minister

Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mariya Mahmoud, has challenged governments at all levels to measure their performance by the quality of life delivered to citizens rather than the authority they wield.

Mahmoud said the real test of governance was whether citizens could enjoy safety, dignity, economic opportunities and access to essential services as a direct result of government policies.

The minister spoke while delivering the keynote address at the Resilience in Leadership and Governance Roundtable held on the margins of the 2026 United Nations General Assembly, where she addressed the theme, “Catalyzing Effective Governance and Human Security.”

She said governance must produce measurable improvements in areas such as healthcare, education, transportation, public services, livelihoods and citizen participation.

According to her, leadership in times of crisis requires more than the ability to withstand pressure, stressing that governments must learn from challenges and adapt their policies while ensuring that essential services continue to reach the people.

“Resilient leadership is more than the ability to endure a crisis; it is the capacity to learn, adjust, and continue delivering essential services without losing sight of the people affected by public decisions,” Mahmoud said.

The minister also broadened the meaning of human security beyond the absence of war, warning that citizens could remain vulnerable even in peaceful environments when they lack food, healthcare, employment, shelter and other basic services.

“A person may be free from armed conflict and still remain deeply insecure because of hunger, illness, unemployment, displacement or the absence of basic services,” she said.