A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Obidike Chukwuebuka, has urged Nigerians to consider the continuity of ongoing economic and institutional reforms when deciding their choice in the 2027 presidential election. He said President Bola Tinubu's administration had introduced several reforms which required time to deliver their full impact. These reforms include removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms, increased revenue mobilisation, student financing, infrastructure projects, and measures aimed at strengthening local government autonomy.
According to Obidike, the reforms had come with significant adjustments for Nigerians, but their long-term effects should also be considered in assessing the government's performance. The removal of petrol subsidy in May 2023 had ended a system that placed a substantial burden on public finances. Foreign exchange reforms had also changed the way the country manages its currency market. He pointed to increased Federation Account allocations to the three tiers of government, saying the additional revenue had expanded the resources available to states and local governments.
Obidike highlighted the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, describing the student loan scheme as an intervention aimed at expanding access to higher education for students who may otherwise struggle to meet tuition and other education-related expenses. He said infrastructure development was another area in which the administration had made significant commitments. Ongoing projects include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, and the 9th Mile-Oturkpo-Makurdi Road.
The APC chieftain also mentioned the Kano-Daura-Kongolam Road and the proposed Calabar-Abuja Trans-Sahara Superhighway as part of the infrastructure projects associated with the administration. On local government administration, he referred to the Supreme Court's July 2024 judgment affirming the constitutional principle of financial autonomy for local governments. The judgment directed that allocations due to local councils should be paid directly to them rather than through state governments.
However, implementation of the judgment has remained contentious, with reports indicating continued disputes over the direct disbursement and management of local government funds. Obidike argued that the combination of fiscal reforms, infrastructure investment, and institutional changes provided grounds for maintaining policy continuity beyond 2027. He said some reforms would take several years to produce their full effects because they involved changes to government finances, institutions, and investment patterns.
Obidike acknowledged that Nigerians had experienced economic difficulties since the beginning of the reforms but maintained that the immediate impact should be weighed alongside the administration's longer-term objectives. He called on voters to examine the competing policy proposals ahead of the 2027 election and decide whether the current reform direction should be maintained. Abandoning the present policy direction, in his view, could undermine efforts to consolidate the changes already introduced by the Tinubu administration.
The APC chieftain said Nigerians may regret it if Tinubu loses in 2027, emphasizing the need for stability and consolidation of the reforms that have already started. He urged Nigerians to consider the long-term effects of the reforms and make informed decisions in the 2027 election.
Key points
- APC chieftain urges Nigerians to consider continuity of reforms in 2027 election
- Reforms introduced by Tinubu's administration require time to deliver full impact
- Stability and consolidation of reforms crucial for Nigeria's progress
