Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, claiming its economic policies have benefitted only the wealthy while worsening life for the masses.
Falana made these remarks on Monday during Politics Today on Channels Television. He noted that while some top members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) celebrated Tinubu’s two years in office, most Nigerians continued to struggle under harsh economic conditions.
“For top government officials, life has been very rosy,” he said. “One of them even claimed recently that things are improving. That may be true for the rich and the bourgeoisie, but for the masses, things are becoming more difficult due to an excruciating economic crisis.”
When President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, he introduced reforms such as the unification of forex windows and the removal of fuel subsidies. These measures caused sharp increases in energy prices, transportation costs, food prices, and general living expenses.
Falana acknowledged that Tinubu had repeatedly appealed for public patience, insisting the reforms would eventually bring prosperity. However, he maintained that widespread hardship persists.
“To be fair, the President has urged Nigerians to bear with him,” Falana said. “But whether or not people believe in that promise is a different matter. Even the government acknowledges that there’s a crisis. People are hungry. Many families are considering withdrawing their children from school because of the rigid implementation of neoliberal policies dictated or endorsed by the IMF and World Bank.”
Falana urged the government to abandon the economic prescriptions of international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank, stressing the need for Nigeria to pursue policies tailored to its unique socio-economic context.
“I’ve consistently said the government must abandon the Bretton Woods prescriptions. We need confidence in Nigeria and policies that prioritise the needs of our people,” he said.
He also criticised the naira’s devaluation, describing its effect on the cost of living as disastrous.
“If you devalue the currency of a country that heavily relies on imports, prices will skyrocket — and that’s exactly what we’re witnessing. You devalue the currency, and you lose public confidence,” Falana added.
He called on Nigerians to engage more actively in democratic accountability by scrutinising public budgets.
“The President presents budgets to the National Assembly. Governors do the same with their state Houses. Nigerians must study these budgets item by item and monitor their implementation.”
Falana also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rein in premature political campaigns and prioritise governance.
“I see a lot of political activity already,” he noted. “INEC should step in and remind everyone that the ban on campaigning hasn’t been lifted. We must focus on governance for now.”
His remarks come amid increasing calls within the APC for Tinubu to seek re-election in 2027.