Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, describing them as “harsh neoliberal policies” that have devastated Nigeria’s middle class and worsened the living conditions of millions.
Speaking on the worsening economic situation, Falana noted that even though the President recently acknowledged the hardship faced by citizens, his policies have only served to intensify poverty across the country.
“I have seen the President ask APC governors to ‘wet the ground’ more, but as far as the masses of our people are concerned, things are getting tougher by the day,” Falana said. “Because of the religious implementation of neoliberal policies by the government, poverty is on the ascendancy. That will require a review of these policies.”
He condemned the administration’s aggressive privatisation drive, warning that it runs counter to efforts to reduce income inequality. “You cannot be addressing income inequality in a country while handing over the nation’s resources to a few people in the name of privatisation,” he said. “Most Nigerians cannot afford three square meals a day. The middle class has been wiped out by the neoliberal policies of the government.”
Falana urged the federal government to urgently reconsider the economic policies being promoted by international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank and prioritize the needs of ordinary Nigerians, particularly vulnerable populations in rural areas.
“The government must go back to the drawing board and review each of these policies in the interest of Nigerians. It is in the interest of the government to review its policies as soon as possible,” he stated.
He further emphasized the urgent need for the full implementation and legal backing of social welfare programmes such as the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), which was formalised under the Social Investment Programme Agency Act in 2023.
“To eradicate poverty, we must begin by implementing welfare laws,” Falana said, while calling on President Tinubu to encourage state governors to codify these programmes and ensure they are sustained by law.
