Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has acknowledged the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, admitting that the Federal Government’s reforms have placed considerable pressure on households.
Gbajabiamila, however, defended the administration’s economic policies, saying Tinubu chose to make difficult decisions in the long-term interest of the country rather than prioritise immediate political gains.
He spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the unveiling of the administration’s 2027–2031 electoral roadmap, titled, “From Reforms to Prosperity Agenda”.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives said the removal of the petrol subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange market were necessary steps to address longstanding structural problems in the economy.
While acknowledging the hardship resulting from the policies, he maintained that postponing the decisions would have worsened the country’s economic situation.
“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,” he said.
Gbajabiamila explained that Tinubu could have avoided the immediate consequences of the reforms by maintaining the existing economic arrangement but chose to pursue policies he considered necessary for the country’s future.
“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 said.
He added that the success of the reforms would ultimately depend on whether they improved the living conditions of Nigerians and translated economic adjustments into tangible benefits.
Describing the administration’s new electoral roadmap as a reflection of Tinubu’s political philosophy, Gbajabiamila said its vision was to build an economy where citizens could earn decent livelihoods through hard work and enjoy equal opportunities.
“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,” Gbajabiamila said.
He highlighted several government programmes and policies in human capital development, social protection, taxation and electricity, which he said were designed to improve opportunities for Nigerians.
Among the initiatives he mentioned were N-Power and the student loan scheme, which he said were intended to support young people and reduce financial barriers to education and employment opportunities.
He also defended the government’s tax reforms, arguing that they would promote fairness by easing the burden on low-income earners and eligible small businesses.
On electricity, Gbajabiamila cited the Electricity Act, which allows state governments to establish and regulate their electricity markets, describing it as an important step towards attracting investment and improving power supply.
He said the administration wanted to create an environment where young Nigerians could pursue their ambitions without relying on political connections or patronage.
The Chief of Staff urged members and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress to defend the administration’s policies and communicate its achievements to Nigerians.
He said the ruling party must be ready to account for its performance and convince voters through measurable results rather than political promises.
“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,” he said.
Gbajabiamila added that the 2027 general election would give Nigerians the opportunity to decide whether to continue with the administration’s reform agenda or embrace an alternative approach to governance.
