The removal of Nigeria’s fuel subsidy in 2023 delivered important fiscal gains, but the costs have reached households faster than the benefits. Continued hardship and the approaching elections could increase pressure for policy reversal. Making reform last will require making fiscal gains visible to citizens, using political power to curb elite excess, delivering credible relief and creating stronger incentives to sustain reform. – By Afolabi Adekaiyaoja, Kenechukwu Nwagbo and Cameron Thibos

Bangladesh has a revenue crisis. Political and business elites have long used tax exemptions, discretionary enforcement and negotiated compliance to pay less than their fair share. This keeps revenue low, undermines basic services and weakens trust in the state. The government now has a narrow window for radical reform. Realigning tax administration, closing exemption loopholes and expanding the tax base from top down would cause short-term political pain, but this gamble is likely to foster long-term growth, development, resilience and a unique legacy for the BNP. – By Peter J Evans and Suvojit Chattopadhyay

Public Private Partnerships in education do not just involve technical decisions over financing, risk-sharing and service delivery. They require careful consideration of how authority and control are divided between the state and private providers, and for how long. Understanding and navigating this politics is critical to effective implementation and long-term sustainability. Nigeria’s Edo State illustrates how and why. – By Kenechukwu Nwagbo