PROMINENT human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has strongly criticised the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, stating that they have deepened the divide between the wealthy and the poor in Nigeria.
Falana noted that while top government officials and elites have benefited from the administration’s policies, the average Nigerian continues to face worsening 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, 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, President Tinubu has implemented major economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and the unification of foreign exchange rates. These measures, while aimed at long-term fiscal stability, have triggered sharp increases in energy prices, transportation costs, food inflation, and general living expenses.
Falana acknowledged Tinubu’s repeated pleas for public patience, but argued that the government’s neoliberal economic direction—often in line with IMF and World Bank prescriptions—has largely failed to address the plight of ordinary Nigerians.
“In fairness to the President, on many occasions, he has asked Nigerians to bear with him,” Falana said. “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.”
He urged the federal government to abandon policy recommendations from Bretton Woods institutions and instead adopt homegrown solutions focused on Nigeria’s socio-economic realities.
“If you devalue the currency of a country that is import-orientated, you’re going to have an astronomical rise in the price of goods—and that is what has happened to our country,” he said.
Calling for civic vigilance, Falana encouraged Nigerians to actively monitor budget allocations and demand accountability from elected officials. He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to curb premature political activities as some politicians begin laying groundwork for the 2027 elections.
“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,’” he said.
Falana’s comments come amid mounting public discontent and internal political maneuvering within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as some party loyalists begin rallying support for Tinubu’s second term.