The Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi is urging Nigerians to exercise patience with the reforms being implemented by the Bola Tinubu administration.
Since assuming office in May, Tinubu has introduced a series of reforms, such as the floating of the naira and the elimination of contentious fuel subsidies. These actions have led to a surge in the cost of living, accompanied by a notable increase in inflation.
However, Malagi is of the opinion that such consequences are inevitable, emphasizing that, in the long term, these reforms will prove beneficial.
“I want you to remember that the President is seven months old in office. I am not going to make excuses that seven months is just a short time,” he said on Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
“But for a long-term plan, you need a lot more time to put structures. But of course, as you trudge along, there will be shocks, turbulence, and occasional dislocations that you would find. But the vision of the President is very clear: he wants to take Nigeria to the desired prosperity. He works day and night to achieve that. Every day, all the ministers and everyone are working in that direction but the results are not seen yet. We ask Nigerians to be a little more patient.”
While acknowledging the challenges faced by Nigerians, the minister affirmed that the country’s leadership is diligently working to reverse the current difficulties.
He highlighted that President Tinubu’s government, following the removal of subsidies, implemented several measures to mitigate the impact.
These measures include wage awards for Federal Government workers and the forthcoming introduction of CNG buses nationwide.
The country’s labor unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have consistently threatened strikes in response to the escalating cost of living.
In August, these unions staged a one-day strike in Abuja, resulting in the closure of businesses, government offices, and markets. However, the response from businesses in the economic capital, Lagos, was mixed.