Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has acknowledged the economic hardship facing Nigerians, saying nobody should pretend that life is easy amid the effects of the Federal Government’s reforms.
He defended the administration’s policies, however, saying Tinubu chose to govern as a statesman rather than a politician by tackling longstanding economic challenges despite the immediate political costs.
Gbajabiamila spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the unveiling of the administration’s 2027–2031 electoral roadmap, titled From Reforms to Prosperity Agenda.
He said the decisions to remove the petrol subsidy and unify the foreign exchange market were intended to address structural weaknesses in the economy and secure the country’s long-term economic future.
Acknowledging that the policies had put considerable pressure on households, he said avoiding difficult decisions would have further undermined Nigeria’s economic prospects.
“Now, those decisions have placed real pressure on households. We must speak honestly about that experience because the people living through it deserve to be heard. And nobody should have to pretend that life is easy at the moment,” he said.
Gbajabiamila contrasted politicians focused on winning the next election with statesmen who make decisions in the country’s long-term interest. He said Tinubu could have maintained existing policies to avoid immediate public backlash but instead chose to confront economic distortions.
“If he came in as a politician and decided to govern as a politician, he would have continued on the cruise, on the path that we were taking.
“But instead, knowing full well the immediate consequences, he decided he would govern as a leader,” he said.
Gbajabiamila said the reforms would ultimately be judged by whether they translated into better living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.
Describing the electoral roadmap as an ambitious document, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives said it reflected Tinubu’s political philosophy and commitment to long-term national development.
He said the administration’s overarching goal was to build an economy in which hard work could provide a decent livelihood and every Nigerian had a fair opportunity to succeed.
“At the heart of this manifesto is my abiding conviction that every Nigerian should be able to share. Your country should give your best efforts a fair chance.
“A manifesto, in its strictest sense, is simply a contract between the people and the leader,” he said.
He cited interventions in human capital development, social protection, taxation and electricity as evidence of the government’s efforts to expand economic opportunities.
Initiatives such as N-Power and the student loan scheme, he said, were intended to improve access to opportunities and ease financial pressure on young Nigerians.
He also said the government’s tax reforms were designed to promote fairness by reducing the burden on low-income earners and qualifying small businesses.
Gbajabiamila described the Electricity Act, which allows states to establish and regulate their own electricity markets, as a major intervention to attract investment and improve access to power.
He said the administration was committed to creating an environment in which young Nigerians could pursue their ambitions without relying on political connections or patronage.
The Chief of Staff urged members and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defend the administration’s record and engage directly with Nigerians about its policies.
He said the party must be ready to account for its performance and persuade voters through its achievements rather than political rhetoric.
“The party asking to continue in government must be prepared to answer the people whose mandate it seeks.
“We must earn support through the quality of work, through the quality of our case and the seriousness of our conduct,” he said.
Gbajabiamila said the 2027 general election would give Nigerians an opportunity to decide whether to continue with the administration’s reform agenda or return to what he described as short-term political approaches.
