Historical African Studies have highlighted various governance challenges in Nigeria, which continue to affect contemporary policy implementation. An action research approach was employed, utilising archival data and qualitative interviews with former Nigerian political figures to trace the roots of contemporary governance issues. A key finding is that colonial-era administrative practices have significantly influenced modern bureaucratic inefficiencies, particularly in resource management and service delivery. The historical legacy has created a complex interplay between traditional and modern governance structures, necessitating tailored policy interventions to address current challenges. Recommendations include the development of comprehensive training programmes for public sector employees on historical administrative practices and the establishment of accountability mechanisms to ensure better resource allocation.