THE former governor of Kano State has stated that the government led by Bola Tinubu needs to reassess its policies and acknowledge its errors.
Nigeria’s economic situation has significantly deteriorated due to the removal of subsidies and the floating of the naira measures that have been taken by the Tinubu administration.
Nigeria’s currency, the naira, has sharply decreased in value following these changes, leading to public protests.
To tackle these issues, Shekarau suggested that Tinubu and his team should review their economic strategies and recognize their mistakes where applicable.
“As we say in the teaching profession, the best learning comes from making mistakes,” the former governor remarked during Friday’s edition of Politics Today on Channels Television.
“The government should take a step back and assess: ‘What mistakes have been made? What errors have been announced? Which policies have contributed to the current crises of hunger and soaring living costs, with food inflation at 40 percent?’”
Since President Tinubu’s well-known declaration that “subsidy is gone” during his inauguration in May 2023, petrol prices have tripled, contributing to rising inflation rates.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that Nigeria’s inflation rate reached 34 percent in June 2024, pushing essential goods beyond the reach of millions.
Although Tinubu has enacted a new minimum wage law and implemented various measures to mitigate the effects of his government’s economic policies, thousands of Nigerians took to the streets in early August to protest the harsh living conditions.
Among their demands was the reinstatement of the petrol subsidy. However, in response to the protests, Tinubu maintained that the policy would not be reversed.
Nonetheless, Shekarau contended that the Tinubu administration should acknowledge its missteps.
“Recognize that some mistakes have been made; certain errors have likely been overlooked,” he stated. “Now is the time to reflect and address these issues.”