POLITICS
Your Reforms Lack Human Face, Deepening Inequality – Group Tells Tinubu
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The Narrative Force, a socio-political intellectual collective, has declared that the statistics being bandied by President Bola Tinubu administration is not having any positive impact on Nigerian as the reforms lack human face and deepening inequality.
The group was reacting to the recent statement issued by the Presidency in response to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s critique of the state of Nigeria’s economy.
While the Presidency highlights improvements in foreign reserves, trade surpluses, and inflation trends, the group said they find it essential to bring balance to this discourse by examining the lived realities of Nigerians.
According to the group, governance is not validated by abstract numbers alone but by how those numbers translate into improved living conditions for citizens.
“A nation cannot be said to be making meaningful progress when the majority of its people still struggle to afford food, access healthcare, and live securely.
“According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), as of August 2025, food inflation remains at over 31%, placing even the most basic staples—rice, beans, yam, bread, beyond the reach of many households.
“The same NBS Multidimensional Poverty Index indicates that over 133 million Nigerians remain multidimensionally poor, deprived across multiple critical indicators including nutrition, healthcare, education, and shelter.
“The Presidency points to falling ‘headline inflation,’ but the reality for ordinary Nigerians tells another story. A bag of rice that sold for ₦8,000 in 2015 now exceeds ₦70,000 in many states. Transport fares have tripled since the removal of fuel subsidy, swallowing disposable income and leaving families impoverished. For most Nigerians, daily survival is a struggle, not a reflection of ‘positive developments.’
“Worse still, the administration’s ongoing tax reforms, designed to boost government revenue, have added fresh burdens on citizens and businesses. In a country where poverty and unemployment remain alarmingly high, this policy direction risks extracting more from those who have little, without visible improvements in their welfare.
“As economic experts note, true growth is not defined by how much government collects in taxes or reserves, but by how much the lives of citizens improve.
“The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that real youth unemployment in Nigeria exceeds 50%, while the World Food Programme (WFP) projects that 26.5 million Nigerians will be at risk of acute hunger in 2025. These numbers paint a stark contrast with the government’s narrative of progress.
“History teaches us that deprivation often breeds unrest. From the French Revolution of 1789 to the Arab Spring of 2011, hunger and inequality have been catalysts of instability. Even Nigeria’s own EndSARS protests of 2020 were fueled by frustrations over governance, inequality, and economic hopelessness. Leadership must learn from these lessons, not dismiss them.
“Reforms that lack a human face deepen inequality. The World Bank has repeatedly warned that fiscal reforms in fragile economies, if unaccompanied by strong social protection, punish the poor disproportionately. Nigerians cannot eat foreign reserves or trade surpluses; what they need is affordable food, decent jobs, functioning healthcare, and safety in their communities.
“Here, alternative visions like Atiku Abubakar’s $10 billion SME stimulus plan deserve attention. SMEs account for nearly 50% of Nigeria’s GDP and provide over 80% of jobs. By deliberately funding and supporting this sector, government can stimulate sustainable growth while directly improving the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. This is the type of intervention that bridges economic data with human progress.
“While the Presidency often blames past administrations, Nigerians expect solutions, not excuses. Two years into office, the Tinubu government is duty-bound to show visible improvements in hunger, poverty, and security. Citizens cannot afford to wait endlessly for promises to translate into reality.
“As a collective, The Narrative Force urges the administration to rethink its priorities: invest in agriculture to lower food costs, expand SME financing, strengthen education and healthcare systems, and ease the cost of doing business. Nigeria’s greatness will not be measured by government reserves or tax receipts but by the number of lives lifted out of poverty and the dignity restored to its citizens.
“History will not remember leaders by the figures they recite but by the futures they secure for their people. If reforms must endure, they must be rooted in justice, empathy, and inclusivity. Anything less will only widen the gulf between government narratives and citizens’ lived experiences.
“Nigeria stands at a decisive moment. By placing the people, not just statistics, at the center of governance, the nation can move from promises to progress, and from numbers to nourishment.”
From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo
The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday charged newly inaugurated members of the Osun Central Senatorial District Accord Campaign Committee for Aare Ganiyu Olaoluwa Asejere to deploy their experience and political networks for effective grassroots mobilization, wider public engagement, and strong support for Aare Asejere.
Governor Adeleke gave this charge while speaking at the official Inauguration of the Osun Central Senatorial District Accord Campaign Committee for Aare Ganiyu Olaoluwa Asejere, at Adebimpe event hall, adjacent Osogbo City Stadium, along Ikirun Road,Osogbo.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi said, the campaign council committees should intensify grassroots mobilization from now till Election Day.
Governor Adeleke admonished entire people of Osun Central Senatorial district to see themselves as one and remain under the umbrella of the Accord while they should continue to demonstrate their unalloyed love and support for Aare Asejere for him to emerge as the next Senator for the area in January 2027.
“I am appealing to you all my dear people to extend the same love you gave me in the just concluded Governorship election in Osun State to Alhaji Asejere in the forthcoming election as he must be in the Red Chamber by January 2027 by the power of the Almighty God” Governor Adeleke stressed.=
Yeye Dupe Adeleke Sanni, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun and a current Commissioner in Osun, Hon Bunmi Jenyo, while inaugurating the committee, charged them to be up and doing and work towards the victory of Aare Asejere in the coming election.
“The committee should make sure our Accord candidate for Osun Central Senatorial district wins the Senatorial election to the Senate as Aare Asejere’s Senatorial ambition is a round peg in a round hole towards the development and betterment of the people”.
The Chairman of the Campaign Committee and Secretary to the Osun State Government, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye as well as the Director-General of the Asejere Campaign Committee and the incumbent Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, while speaking congratulated Aare Asejere in advance saying, nothing will stop his emergence as Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial district in the coming election by God’s Grace and people’s support.
Also the Osun Accord Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande enjoyed the newly inaugurated committee for the emergence of Aare Asejere to see the assignment as a task which they should not take with levity.
“Our man, Aare Asejere has been tested, he has never been found wanting, he’s a man of his word and he is a complete grassroots politician who loves to develop people, let us join hands together and support his ambition”, Pastor Akande said.
Responding, Aare Asejere who was highly elated for seeing large numbers of people from far and near promised not to let the people of Osun Central Senatorial district down, adding that he will ensure he involves the whole people in his performance while his representation will be meaningful.
Aare Asejere once again called on the people of Osun Central to vote him in as the Senator representing the district assured that he will not fail them.
He appreciated Governor Ademola Adeleke in absentia, his deputy, the SSG, Bobagunwa Igbalaiye, Oluomo Alimi, Yeye Dupe-Sanni, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon Egbedun, Hon Abesin, Hon
Funso Ishola, party leaders, members of the Accord, community leaders, Iyaloja-General and her team, Oluomo Rasaki, Hon Adigun Olaide, among others.
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously called for urgent and coordinated actions to protect Nigerian girls from child marriage and other harmful practices.
The call followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by the member representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Rep.
Kafilat Ogbara, in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, marked every October 11th.Ogbara, while moving the motion, decried the prevalence of child marriage and other harmful practices against the girl child.
She called on government at all levels to strengthen national programmes aimed at preventing child marriage and protecting girls at risk.
The Speaker, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, in adopting the motion, also urged governments at all levels to ensure that every girl child has access to education, and quality healthcare.
The theme for the 2026 commemoration siught to reaffirm commitment to ending child marriage and upholding the fundamental rights of every girl child.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated its commitment to an inclusive electoral process.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Prof. Adeniran Tella, stated this on Wednesday in Ibadan at a training programme for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Tella noted that persons with one form of disability or another constitute an important segment of the society.
He said such individuals are citizens with equal rights, responsibilities, aspirations and contributions to make towards the development of the country.
He said: “The commission recognises that electoral inclusion goes beyond permitting PWDs to register and vote.
“It also involves ensuring that they have access to reliable electoral information, understand electoral procedures, can access polling units and are able to participate in other aspects of the electoral process.”
Tella said the commission would provide relevant assistive devices such as magnifying glasses, Braille guides and posters for voters with hearing impairments at polling units to give Persons with Disabilities a more pleasant voting experience on election days.
He added that INEC guidelines and regulations provide that priority should be accorded to PWDs at polling units without them having to wait in long queues during voting.
He further said that eligible PWDs would be engaged and trained as ad-hoc staff during the elections.
The REC explained that the objective of the commission was to ensure that eligible PWDs in the state were not discouraged, excluded or prevented by avoidable barriers from exercising their franchise during the elections.
He further asserted that “democracy is stronger when every eligible citizen has a fair opportunity to participate in shaping its future.”
He urged PWDs across the state to cooperate with the commission to remove avoidable barriers, promote electoral awareness and encourage peaceful participation.
The state Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Oluwaranti Abiodun, commended INEC for giving special consideration to PWDs ahead of the forthcoming general election.
Abiodun urged the electoral body to give priority to the plights of Persons with Disabilities when planning its activities towards the conduct of the elections.
He demanded that more consideration should be given to eligible PWDs who are interested in working as ad-hoc staff.
He also called on members of the association to support INEC and be ready to perform their civic responsibilities during the 2027 elections. (NAN)
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