Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has admitted that Nigerians are going through tough economic times, saying nobody can pretend that life is easy under the current circumstances.
Gbajabiamila acknowledged that the Federal Government’s economic reforms had put considerable pressure on households but insisted that Tinubu took difficult decisions to rescue the economy from longstanding problems.
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 defended the removal of petrol subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange market, arguing that the measures were necessary to correct structural weaknesses in the economy.
He, however, admitted that ordinary Nigerians were bearing the immediate consequences of the policies.
“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 argued that Tinubu chose to govern as a statesman rather than a politician by taking decisions he knew could attract public anger but were considered necessary for the country’s long-term economic future.
According to him, the President could have maintained the existing economic arrangement to avoid immediate backlash but opted to confront the country’s economic challenges.
He said the ultimate test of the reforms would be whether they translated into improved living conditions and better opportunities for Nigerians.
The Chief of Staff also defended the administration’s performance, citing its interventions in education, social protection, taxation and electricity as efforts to improve the economy.
He mentioned programmes such as N-Power and the student loan scheme, saying they were designed to expand opportunities for young Nigerians and reduce their financial burdens.
He also praised the tax reforms for seeking to ease the burden on low-income earners and qualifying small businesses.
On electricity, he highlighted the Electricity Act, which allows states to establish and regulate their own electricity markets, describing it as a major step towards attracting investment and improving power supply.
Gbajabiamila said the administration wanted to build a country where young Nigerians could achieve their ambitions without relying on political connections or patronage.
He urged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defend the Tinubu administration’s record and engage Nigerians directly on its achievements.
He warned that the ruling party must be prepared to account for its performance rather than rely on political promises ahead of the 2027 general election.
Gbajabiamila said the election would give Nigerians the opportunity to decide whether to continue with Tinubu’s reform agenda or return to what he described as short-term political solutions.
