Government Relations Manager

About PalmPay
PalmPay is a leading pan-African fintech platform with a mission to make financial services more accessible and inclusive across Africa. With operations in Nigeria and several other African markets, PalmPay delivers innovative products including digital wallets, merchant services, ATM cards, POS banking, and lending solutions.
As we continue to scale, building strong partnerships with regulatory authorities and government stakeholders is critical. We are looking for a strategic and experienced Government Relations Manager to lead engagement efforts with government entities, policymakers, and regulatory institutions. Job Summary
The Government Relations Manager will be responsible for developing and managing PalmPay’s public sector engagement strategy. The role involves building and maintaining productive relationships with government agencies, advocating for favorable policies, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. This person will act as a key liaison between PalmPay and public institutions, helping shape the company’s regulatory positioning and reputation. Key Responsibilities
Stakeholder Engagement & Government Liaison

• Establish and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with government agencies, regulatory authorities (e.g., CBN, NITDA, NDPC, FCCPC), legislators, and public policy institutions.
• Represent PalmPay in regulatory meetings, public hearings, government-led forums, and industry associations.
• Ensure timely communication of regulatory changes, proposals, and industry developments to internal stakeholders.

Policy Advocacy & Strategic Communication

• Monitor, analyze, and interpret key regulatory and legislative developments affecting the fintech/payments sector.
• Develop policy briefs, position papers, and strategic responses to proposed legislation or regulations.
• Advocate PalmPay’s interests by articulating the company’s views on emerging regulations or compliance issues.

Regulatory Compliance Support

• Work closely with Legal, Compliance, and Product teams to ensure alignment with evolving legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Support regulatory licensing, reporting obligations, and audits by coordinating with government agencies.
• Mitigate regulatory risk through proactive engagement and internal awareness programs.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Serve as a bridge between PalmPay’s operational teams and government stakeholders to facilitate approvals, escalations, or special initiatives.
• Support strategic projects involving public-private partnerships, grants, or pilot programs.
• Collaborate with marketing, PR, and executive leadership to manage public perception and reputation risk.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Law, International Relations, or related fields. Master’s degree or LLB is an advantage.
• 7+ years of experience in government affairs, public policy, regulatory relations, or stakeholder engagement, ideally in a regulated sector such as fintech, telecom, or banking.
• Proven relationships with Nigerian regulatory authorities (CBN, NCC, NITDA, NDIC, NDPC, EFCC, etc.).
• Strong understanding of Nigeria’s financial services regulatory and political landscape.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and diplomacy skills.
• Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders at senior levels.
• Experience in public speaking, advocacy, or policy writing is a plus.
• High ethical standards and integrity; ability to manage sensitive or confidential information.