The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has acknowledged the economic hardship confronting Nigerians, admitting that life is currently difficult for many households following the Federal Government’s economic reforms.
Gbajabiamila, however, defended the policies of the Tinubu administration, arguing that the President took difficult decisions in the long-term interest of the country rather than prioritising 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 petrol subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange market were necessary measures to address longstanding structural weaknesses in the economy and safeguard Nigeria’s economic future.
While acknowledging the impact of the policies on households, he maintained that postponing difficult economic decisions would have worsened the country’s challenges.
“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 said Tinubu had chosen to govern as a statesman rather than a politician, noting that the President could have maintained the existing economic arrangements to avoid public discontent but opted instead to confront the country’s economic distortions.
“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.
He stressed that the success of the reforms would ultimately be measured by their ability to improve the living conditions of Nigerians and translate economic gains into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.
Describing the new electoral roadmap as a reflection of Tinubu’s political philosophy and development vision, Gbajabiamila said the administration was committed to building an economy where hard work guarantees a decent livelihood and every Nigerian has a fair opportunity to succeed.
“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 said.
He identified the administration’s interventions in human capital development, social protection, taxation and electricity as some of the measures aimed at expanding economic opportunities.
Among these, he cited the N-Power programme and the student loan scheme, which he said were designed to improve access to opportunities and reduce the financial burden on young Nigerians. He also defended the administration’s tax reforms, saying they were intended to promote fairness by easing the tax burden on low-income earners and qualifying small businesses.
On electricity, Gbajabiamila highlighted the Electricity Act, which empowers state governments to establish and regulate their electricity markets, describing it as a major step towards attracting investment and improving power supply.
He said the administration was working towards creating an environment where young Nigerians could pursue their ambitions without relying on political connections or patronage.
The President’s Chief of Staff urged members and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take responsibility for defending the administration’s record and engaging Nigerians on its policies.
He said the ruling party must be prepared to account for its performance and convince voters through measurable achievements rather than political rhetoric. “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 said the 2027 general election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to determine whether to sustain the administration’s reform agenda or return to what he described as short-term political approaches.
