Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying its economic policies have only benefited the wealthy while worsening conditions for ordinary Nigerians.
Speaking on Monday, June 9, during Channels Television’s Politics Today, Falana criticised top officials in the All Progressives Congress (APC) for celebrating Tinubu’s two years in office, arguing that most Nigerians are trapped in deepening hardship.
“For members of the government, and I’m talking of top officials, it’s been very rosy. One of them was singing a week ago that things are getting better,” Falana said.
“Of course, for the rich, the bourgeoisie, things are getting better. But for the masses of our people, things are getting tougher because they are going through an excruciating economic crisis.”
Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu has introduced key economic reforms, including unifying Nigeria’s exchange rates and scrapping the fuel subsidy. These moves triggered a sharp rise in energy costs, transport fares, food prices, and overall living expenses.
Falana acknowledged Tinubu’s repeated appeals to citizens for patience, but insisted the suffering has become unbearable for many.
“In fairness to the President, on many occasions, he has asked Nigerians to bear with him, to exercise patience, that our economic programme will lead to prosperity,” Falana noted.
“Whether you believe that or not is another matter, but the government itself realises that there is a crisis in town, that people are hungry, that many are about to withdraw their children from school because of the rigid implementation of neoliberal policies dictated or endorsed by the IMF and World Bank.”
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He urged the government to ditch these foreign-backed economic models and instead adopt strategies that reflect Nigeria’s realities.
“My position, which I have made repeatedly clear, is that the government must abandon the prescriptions of the Bretton Woods institutions and have confidence in Nigeria so that Nigerians can be given the opportunity to run this country in the interest of our people,” Falana said.
“If you devalue the currency of a country that is import-oriented, you are going to have an astronomical rise in the price of goods, and that is what has happened to our country. You devalue the currency, and you lose interest.”
Falana also encouraged Nigerians to actively scrutinise public budgets and demand transparency from their leaders.
“I want to challenge Nigerians to appreciate that budgets are presented to the National Assembly by the President. Governors also present budgets to their respective Houses of Assembly. Nigerians must take these budgets, identify the items one by one, and ensure we follow up and monitor their execution.”
On the political front, Falana criticised early campaign moves, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to step in.
“I have seen a lot of politics going on and had expected INEC to intervene by saying, ‘We haven’t lifted the ban on electioneering; therefore, concentrate on governance for now.’”
His comments come amid renewed backing for Tinubu’s possible re-election bid in 2027, despite widespread discontent over the country’s current economic direction.