Government Relations Manager - Nigeria at Oasis Africa Consulting

The Government Relations Manager serves as the primary liaison between the company and Nigerian government entities, regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders. This role ensures alignment between business objectives and public policy while maintaining compliance with all regulatory requirements. The position requires strategic engagement to shape favorable policy environments and secure necessary approvals for business operations. Responsible for developing, implementing, and managing the organization’s government relations strategy to advance its policy goals and interests.

Government Engagement & Policy Monitoring

• Maintain daily contact with relevant ministries (Petroleum, Power, Transport, etc.), legislators, and regulatory agencies
• Monitor and analyse proposed legislation/regulations impacting company operations.
• Develop and implement strategies to engage with government officials, including meetings, briefing and written communications.
• Prepare position papers and policy briefs for internal stakeholders.
• Represent the organization in meetings and interactions with government officials, lawmakers and other stakeholders.
• Represent the company at public hearings, parliamentary sessions, and industry forums.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with government officials, lawmakers and other stakeholders to advance the organization’s interests.
• Monitor and analyze policy developments, legislation and regulation that impact the organization’s interests.
• Develop and maintain systems to track policy developments and monitor progress.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including executives, staff and experts, to develop and implement government relations strategies.
• Ensure that the organization’s government relations activities comply with all applicable laws and regulations. 

Regulatory Compliance & Approvals

• Secure all required permits, licenses, and approvals from government agencies.
• Staying up to date on new laws, regulations and policies that affect the organization.
• Creating plans to ensure the organization complies with new regulations and laws.
• Manage renewal processes for operational licenses and certifications.
• Develop compliance frameworks for new regulations in collaboration with Legal counsel.

Stakeholder Management

• Identify, build and maintain relationships with key decision-makers at federal, state, and local levels.
• Coordinate with industry associations (MAN, NACCIMA, etc.) on collective advocacy.
• Oversee arrangements with immigration, visa, and passport authorities.
• Interface with community leaders and traditional institutions where required.
• Understanding and managing the expectations of stakeholders to avoid conflicts and ensure mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Building coalitions and partnerships with stakeholders to achieve common goals and advance the organization’s interests.  Strategic Advisory
• Provide real-time intelligence on political developments affecting business.
• Advise senior management on government engagement strategies.
• Develop contingency plans for potential regulatory changes.
• Identifying potential risk and developing strategies to mitigate them.
• Providing guidance of managing crises and communicating effectively with government officials, media and other stakeholders.
• Help the organization to enhance their reputation and credibility.

Project Support

• Facilitate government approvals for new projects and expansions.
• Coordinate inter-agency collaborations for large-scale initiatives.
• Resolve bureaucratic bottlenecks impacting operations.
• Helping to prepare and submit tenders for government contracts.
• Developing strategies to increase the chances of winning government bids.
• Guiding organizations through the government procurement process, including understanding evaluation criteria and timeliness.
• Building relationships with government officials and other stakeholders to support the bidding process.
• Assisting with writing and editing proposals to ensure they meet government requirements and showcase the organization’s capabilities.  Corporate Reputation
• Position the company as a thought leader through policy roundtables.
• Organize government familiarization visits to company facilities.
• Manage corporate contributions to government development initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, Law, International Relations, or related field.
• Master's degree in fields such as Public Administration, Public Policy or Law preferred.
• Certification in Public Relations or Government Relations is a plus.
• 7+ years in government relations, public affairs, or regulatory roles.
• Proven experience working with Nigerian government institutions (NASS, MDAs).
• Existing network within key ministries and regulatory bodies.
• Background in energy, infrastructure or highly regulated sectors.

Technical Skills:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• In-depth knowledge of Nigerian political and regulatory processes.
• Strong understanding of sector-specific laws (PIA, Electricity Act, etc.)
• Excellent regulatory documentation preparation skills.
• Crisis management and negotiation expertise.
• Strategic thinking and planning skills.
• Project management skills. Behavioral Competencies:
• Discretion and political savvy.
• Diplomatic communication skills.
• Cultural intelligence across government hierarchies.
• Ability to translate policy language into business impacts.