The Arewa Consultative Forum has called on the Bola Tinubu administration to acknowledge shortcomings in its assessment of the impact of its economic reforms on Nigerians, amid rising poverty and hardship.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, the Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Professor Tukur Mohammed-Baba, said the government should admit where its assessment went wrong and explain how it intends to address the consequences.
“What do I want to see from the administration? An open admission that things are not going the way they were intended, or rather, they did not do their work very well on impact analysis.”
Mohammed-Baba said the government’s justification of the reforms does not adequately address the hardship being experienced by Nigerians.
“All this attempt to justify reforms, ‘we will see the pains,’ ‘we are now feeling the pains,’ ‘the sunshine will come after the rains,’ you know, these are all hallucinations.”
He said the impact of the reforms could be seen in the rising cost of living and deteriorating living conditions across the country.
“Look at the purchasing power of the Naira, look at the living conditions of Nigerians, look at rent, look at housing materials, look at transportation, look at electricity costs, look at transportation, see the condition of the roads in Nigeria, and above all, see the level of insecurity that has been pervading this country.”
The ACF spokesperson also questioned whether the administration conducted adequate due diligence before implementing the reforms.
“Look, there is what we call due diligence. Has this regime done any due diligence on the conditions of Nigerians, especially with regards to these economic conditions? Secondly, have they done any due diligence regarding the existential conditions of people, and so on?”
Mohammed-Baba said the government should provide clear timelines for delivering improvements rather than simply asking Nigerians for more time.
“When you say ‘more time,’ just how much more time do you need?”
He urged the government to set measurable targets that would allow Nigerians to assess its performance.
“So we begin with the politicians, tell us how much time will you need, give us timelines of achievement: ‘By one year, we hope to do this. By second year, we hope to do this. By third year,’ and so on and so forth.”
He said immediate measures could also be taken to reduce the hardship facing Nigerians.
“Three months is enough time, I think, to put in place certain measures that will ameliorate the sufferings of people.”
On what he expects from the administration, Mohammed-Baba called for greater honesty about the outcomes of its policies.
“The administration should be open and direct with the people. It should state clearly that it recognizes the point, will show, will do something about it, and show from the point of view of their own living standards that they are willing to do something about it.”
The ACF spokesperson said the government’s own conduct must also reflect the sacrifices it is asking Nigerians to make.
“The rate at which the sufferings of Nigerians, the sacrifices they are calling for, is not extended to themselves is actually shameful.”
Mohammed-Baba also said the Arewa Consultative Forum would support political candidates based on their commitment to good governance and accountability ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Well, the Arewa Consultative Forum is leaning towards any party and any individual that will deliver good governance, accountability, anti-corruption to Nigerians.”
He said the forum would continue to demand fairness and equity from government.
“The Arewa Consultative Forum is all for good governance, it is for equity, it is for fairness. So far, we are seeing little of this now.”
Mohammed-Baba urged the government to be realistic in its promises and focus on achievable commitments.
“Please don’t promise heaven and earth; we know it cannot be delivered. The thing about perfection is that it is never attainable. So be modest.”
Ojo Triumph
Follow us on:
