By Hassan Hussain
The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, says the President inherited an economy that was on the verge of collapse, necessitating difficult reforms to restore stability.
Gbajabiamila made this known on Thursday at the Working People United Good Governance Summit in Abuja. He acknowledged that the removal of fuel subsidy has exerted economic pressure on Nigerians, but maintained that the situation would have been worse had the policy continued.
According to him, President Tinubu prioritised the long-term interest of the country over political considerations by ending the subsidy regime. He described the policy as unsustainable, noting that it drained trillions of naira annually while benefiting only a few individuals.
“The reforms are aimed at rebuilding the economy and creating a stronger foundation for sustainable growth,” the Chief of Staff said.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, also spoke at the event. He said good governance should be measured by policies that improve citizens’ livelihoods, create opportunities, increase productivity, and protect workers.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator of Working People United, William Akporeha, commended the Tinubu administration for what he described as a courageous decision to remove the fuel subsidy.
Participants at the summit agreed that while the reforms have brought short-term challenges, they remain necessary steps towards strengthening Nigeria’s economy and improving the welfare of citizens in the long run.
