President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, has admitted that Nigerians are facing significant economic hardship. He said nobody should pretend that life is easy, given the impact of the Federal Government’s economic reforms.
Gbajabiamila, however, defended the policies of the Tinubu administration. He argued that the president deliberately chose to govern as a statesman and not as a politician, by confronting long-standing economic challenges despite the immediate political consequences.
He spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the unveiling of the administration’s 2027–2031 electoral roadmap, titled “From Reforms to Prosperity Agenda”.
According to him, Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy and unify the foreign exchange market was driven by the need to address structural weaknesses in the economy and secure the country’s long-term economic future.
The Chief of Staff acknowledged that the policies had put considerable pressure on households. He insisted, however, that avoiding difficult decisions would have further damaged Nigeria’s economic prospects.
He said: “Now, those decisions have placed real pressure on households. We must speak honestly about that experience because the people living through it deserve to be heard. And nobody should have to pretend that life is easy at the moment.”
Gbajabiamila drew a distinction between politicians, who are mainly concerned with winning the next election, and statesmen, who make decisions based on the long-term interests of the country.
He said Tinubu had the option of keeping the existing economic policies to avoid an immediate public backlash. Instead, he chose to confront the country’s economic distortions.
He said: “If he came in as a politician and decided to govern as a politician, he would have continued on the cruise, on the path that we were taking.
“But instead, knowing full well the immediate consequences, he decided he would govern as a leader.”
He added that the ultimate justification for the reforms would be their ability to turn structural economic improvements into better living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives described the administration’s new electoral roadmap as an ambitious document. He said it reflected Tinubu’s political philosophy and his commitment to long-term national development.
He said the overarching objective was to build an economy where hard work guarantees a decent livelihood and every Nigerian has a fair opportunity to succeed.
Gbajabiamila said: “At the heart of this manifesto is my abiding conviction that every Nigerian should be able to share. Your country should give your best efforts a fair chance.
“A manifesto, in its strictest sense, is simply a contract between the people and the leader.”
He listed some of the administration’s interventions in human capital development, social protection, taxation and electricity as evidence of its efforts to expand economic opportunities.
According to him, initiatives such as N-Power and the student loan scheme are designed to improve access to opportunities and ease the financial burden on young Nigerians.
He also highlighted the government’s tax reforms. He said they were designed to promote fiscal fairness by reducing the burden on low-income earners and qualifying small businesses.
Gbajabiamila further cited the Electricity Act as a major intervention aimed at attracting investment and improving access to power. The Act empowers states to establish and regulate their electricity markets.
He said the administration was committed to creating an environment where young Nigerians could pursue their ambitions without depending on political connections or patronage.
The Chief of Staff also called on members and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defend the administration’s record and engage Nigerians directly on its policies.
He said the ruling party must be ready to account for its performance and win over voters through its achievements, not political rhetoric.
He said: “The party asking to continue in government must be prepared to answer the people whose mandate it seeks.
“We must earn support through the quality of work, through the quality of our case and the seriousness of our conduct.”
Gbajabiamila said the 2027 general election would give Nigerians the chance to decide whether to sustain the administration’s reform agenda or return to what he described as short-term political approaches.
