Human rights lawyer, Chief Femi Falana, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they have worsened poverty and wiped out Nigeria’s middle class.
Falana said this while speaking on Channels Television on Monday.
He said the administration’s “harsh neoliberal policies” are responsible for the worsening economic hardship faced by the majority of Nigerians.
Falana said: “Because of the religious implementation of neoliberal policies by the government, poverty is on the rise. That will require a review of these policies.”
Falana said the middle class has been wiped out, and millions are struggling to afford basic necessities, with many unable to have three square meals a day.
He criticizes the government’s privatization agenda, arguing it contradicts efforts to address income inequality.
Falana urged the government to review its policies, particularly those promoted by the IMF and World Bank.
He also called for the urgent implementation and legal backing of social welfare programmes to cushion the effects of economic hardship on vulnerable Nigerians.
Citing the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), which was established under the 2023 Social Investment Programme Agency Act, Falana urged the President to work with state governors to domesticate and enact such measures into law.
He called for the implementation and legal backing of programs like N-Power, school feeding, and conditional cash transfers to support vulnerable Nigerians.
However, Falana noted that while President Tinubu has acknowledged the challenges, his approach has not provided relief to the masses, and the situation demands an immediate policy rethink.