How Tinubu’s Govt Deceived Nigerians On Major Economic, Social Reforms — Group

A policy advocacy group, The Narrative Force, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of misleading Nigerians on key economic and social reforms, alleging that several flagship policies have worsened living conditions rather than improved them.

In a detailed statement signed by its Director-General, Aare Amerijoye Dotb, the group said the government’s reform agenda amounted to a catalogue of misrepresentation, insisting that official claims of progress were at variance with realities on the ground.

The group argued that while the government has repeatedly highlighted macroeconomic indicators such as GDP growth, the impact of its policies has translated into rising poverty, inflation and declining purchasing power for ordinary Nigerians.

According to the statement, the unification of the foreign exchange market triggered a sharp depreciation of the naira, which it said eroded savings, increased import costs and destabilised businesses across sectors.

It further criticised the removal of fuel subsidy, describing the move as “premature and poorly managed,” noting that it led to an immediate spike in transport fares and the collapse of small businesses without adequate social protection measures.

On social interventions, the group faulted the government’s cash transfer programme, alleging that it was riddled with inconsistencies and failed to reach the majority of vulnerable Nigerians.

The statement also dismissed claims of progress in the education sector, arguing that the student loan scheme merely transferred financial burden to students without addressing structural challenges in public universities.

“Food inflation exceeded 40 per cent, the worst in Nigeria’s recorded history, while farmers abandoned their lands due to insecurity. If agricultural policy had worked, prices would not have risen to these levels.

“The national grid collapsed repeatedly to near-zero, yet electricity tariffs were increased, effectively pricing many Nigerians out of access to power despite claims of sector reforms.

“Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio has exceeded 100 per cent in recent periods, meaning the government is effectively borrowing to survive, with little left for critical infrastructure and social services.

“The most honest indicator of youth empowerment today is the mass exodus of young Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad, reflecting declining confidence in the country’s economic future.

“There is no renewed hope in these numbers. What Nigerians are experiencing is renewed hardship, and the gap between government claims and lived reality continues to widen,” it added.

Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.