Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has intensified his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing the Federal Government of relying on favourable economic statistics to create the impression of progress while millions of Nigerians continue to grapple with worsening economic hardship.
The former vice president made the remarks in a statement issued on Sunday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, where he challenged the government’s repeated claims that its economic reforms are delivering positive results for the country.
According to Atiku, official figures and economic reports cannot hide the daily struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians who continue to battle soaring food prices, high transportation costs, rising electricity tariffs and declining purchasing power.
His comments come as debates over the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms continue to dominate the national conversation. Since assuming office in May 2023, President Tinubu has introduced major policy changes, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, reforms the government insists are necessary to stabilise the economy and attract long term investment.
Government officials have repeatedly argued that while the reforms have been painful in the short term, they are already beginning to produce positive economic indicators, including improved government revenue, increased foreign investor confidence and stronger fiscal management.
However, Atiku believes those claims do not reflect the realities confronting Nigerians.
He argued that citizens judge the economy by what they experience every day rather than by figures presented during official briefings or policy presentations.
According to him, many households are finding it increasingly difficult to afford basic necessities as inflation continues to erode incomes, making life more challenging for workers, traders and small business owners across the country.
Atiku accused the administration of attempting to use statistics as a public relations tool instead of addressing the real concerns of citizens.
He maintained that while government officials continue to celebrate improvements in selected economic indicators, millions of Nigerians remain unable to feel any meaningful impact in their daily lives.
A major part of the former vice president’s criticism focused on the management of Nigeria’s public debt.
He questioned claims by the administration that proceeds from the removal of fuel subsidy had been used to reduce inherited financial obligations, particularly debts linked to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
According to Atiku, available financial records indicate that the country’s liabilities have continued to grow despite assurances that government finances are improving.
He argued that restructuring debts through treasury bills or bonds should not be interpreted as eliminating those debts, insisting that such measures merely change the form of repayment without reducing the actual financial burden.
The former vice president also challenged the government’s narrative on workers’ welfare.
He claimed that many public sector employees are yet to fully benefit from the implementation of the new national minimum wage, adding that several labour related commitments remain unresolved.
According to him, the continued agitation by organised labour over wage implementation and outstanding allowances demonstrates that many Nigerian workers are still waiting to experience the promised benefits of recent government policies.
Education funding also featured prominently in Atiku’s statement.
He questioned conflicting explanations surrounding the financing of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, popularly known as NELFUND.
According to him, while some government officials have attributed funding for the programme to savings generated from fuel subsidy removal, officials of the agency have also stated that part of the funds came from money recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Atiku argued that such inconsistencies create unnecessary confusion and raise questions about transparency in government communication.
He also criticised the administration’s monetary policies, particularly rising interest rates, which he said have made borrowing more expensive for businesses and manufacturers.
According to him, higher lending costs are discouraging investment, slowing business expansion and making it more difficult for companies to create employment opportunities.
The former vice president insisted that economic success should not be measured solely by technical indicators but by improvements in the quality of life enjoyed by ordinary citizens.
He argued that the real test of any government’s economic policy is whether families can comfortably afford food, healthcare, education and transportation without experiencing severe financial pressure.
For many Nigerians, he said, those conditions have worsened rather than improved.
Atiku therefore urged the Federal Government to focus less on defending economic policies through statistical presentations and more on implementing practical measures capable of easing the hardship facing citizens.
He maintained that transparency, accountability and policies that directly improve people’s standard of living should remain the priority of every administration.
The latest remarks further underscore the widening political divide over the Tinubu administration’s economic agenda.
While government officials continue to defend the reforms as difficult but necessary decisions that will reposition Nigeria’s economy for sustainable growth, opposition leaders argue that the immediate social and economic costs have become unbearable for many citizens.
The exchange is expected to fuel further political debate in the months ahead as economic performance remains one of the most closely watched issues in the country.
With inflation, unemployment, exchange rate stability and the cost of living continuing to dominate public discourse, both the government and opposition are likely to intensify efforts to convince Nigerians that their respective approaches offer the most credible path toward economic recovery and national prosperity.
