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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to acknowledge shortcomings in its economic reform policies and provide clear timelines for delivering relief to Nigerians facing rising living costs.
The forum’s Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Mohammed-Baba, made the call during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, arguing that the government needed to reassess how it evaluated the effects of its policies on citizens.
Mohammed-Baba said the administration should be transparent about areas where its economic projections had fallen short and explain the measures it intended to take to address the resulting hardship.
He criticised the government’s repeated appeals for patience, describing assurances that current difficulties would eventually give way to better conditions as inadequate responses to the suffering experienced by Nigerians.
According to him, the consequences of the reforms are reflected in the declining purchasing power of the naira, rising housing and transportation costs, expensive electricity and deteriorating living conditions.
He also drew attention to persistent insecurity and poor road conditions, questioning whether the government had adequately considered the circumstances of ordinary Nigerians before introducing its economic policies.
“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?” he asked.
The ACF spokesperson maintained that Nigerians needed specific commitments against which the administration’s performance could be measured, rather than open-ended requests for more time.
He challenged the government to establish achievable objectives for successive years of its tenure and communicate the expected outcomes to the public.
“When you say ‘more time,’ just how much more time do you need?” Mohammed-Baba asked.
He further argued that the government could introduce immediate interventions to cushion the effects of the economic difficulties, suggesting that three months would be sufficient to put some relief measures in place.
Mohammed-Baba said the administration should openly acknowledge public concerns, demonstrate its willingness to address them and ensure that improvements were reflected in the living standards of Nigerians.
He also criticised what he described as a disparity between the sacrifices demanded of citizens and the sacrifices made by political leaders.
“The rate at which the sufferings of Nigerians, the sacrifices they are calling for, is not extended to themselves is actually shameful,” he said.
On the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, Mohammed-Baba said the ACF would favour candidates and political parties based on their commitment to good governance, accountability and the fight against corruption.
He stressed that fairness and equity would remain central to the forum’s expectations of those seeking public office.
The ACF spokesperson also cautioned the government against making promises it could not fulfil, urging the administration to concentrate on realistic goals and demonstrate progress through tangible results.
He said Nigerians needed greater honesty from their leaders about the challenges facing the country and practical steps to improve their circumstances.
