Organised Labour delivered a scathing appraisal of President Bola Tinubu’s two-year administration on Thursday, asserting that his much-touted economic reforms have only deepened hardship and poverty for Nigerians. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, argued that Tinubu’s policies have “recycled the same failed neoliberal experiments of the past,” plunging over 150 million citizens into multidimensional poverty.
Ajaero dismissed Tinubu’s claim that “the worst days are over,” insisting that the government’s reforms—such as the abrupt removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of exchange rates—have brought inflation, business closures, and increased hunger. He stated, “You cannot cure a patient by prescribing the poison that made them sick in the first place.”
Tinubu, in a national broadcast marking his second anniversary, maintained that his administration is “on course to building a greater, more economically stable nation,” acknowledging the pain caused by reforms but affirming their necessity for long-term stability.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) swiftly countered Labour’s criticism. APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, accused the NLC of “grandstanding” and failing to consult experts before issuing what he described as “superficial remarks.” The APC emphasized that Tinubu’s reforms—including fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange unification, and debt restructuring—have stabilized Nigeria’s macroeconomic fundamentals and attracted over $50 billion in foreign direct investment since 2023.
Despite the government’s introduction of palliative measures and infrastructure projects, Labour leaders across the country highlighted persistent issues: unaffordable living costs, rising insecurity, wage inadequacies, and a disconnect between government rhetoric and citizens’ daily realities. The NLC called for a shift from consumption subsidies to production-driven policies and demanded practical evidence of progress, not just promises.
As Nigeria marks Tinubu’s midterm, the debate over his administration’s legacy remains sharply polarized, with Labour insisting that hardship persists while the APC urges patience, touting long-term benefits and renewed hope for the nation.
