ACF Hails Bwala’s Admission on Rising Poverty, Faults Tinubu’s Reforms

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has criticised the economic policies of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the reforms have worsened poverty and hardship among Nigerians.

The ACF Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, made the remarks while reacting to comments by Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, during an interview on Arise Television’s News Day on Thursday.

Bwala had, during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, acknowledged that the government’s economic reforms had contributed to increased poverty, while maintaining that the administration had recorded significant progress since introducing the measures.

Reacting, Mohammed-Baba sarcastically congratulated the presidential aide for acknowledging the negative impact of the reforms, describing the admission as a departure from what he characterised as the administration’s previous tendency to defend its policies.

“Let’s first of all be very happy and congratulate Bwala. Until now, one would expect that whenever he comes on TV or appears on social media, it is to deny, deny, deny,” he said.

“But I think we are making progress since his admitting fundamentally that the reforms have brought untold hardships on Nigerians. Most especially, he has not denied that poverty has been rising.”

The ACF spokesman said multidimensional poverty remained widespread in the country, arguing that Nigerians were yet to experience sufficient relief from the economic consequences of the reforms.

He rejected arguments that the hardship associated with the reforms would eventually be outweighed by their long-term benefits, describing such assurances as unrealistic.

Mohammed-Baba drew a comparison with the structural adjustment programme implemented under the administration of former military President Ibrahim Babangida, saying Nigerians had previously been promised that difficult economic measures would eventually produce better outcomes.

He cited declining purchasing power, rising rents, increasing housing and transportation costs, higher electricity bills and deteriorating infrastructure as evidence of the economic difficulties facing households.

“Look at the purchasing power of the naira. Look at the living conditions of Nigerians. Look at rent. Look at housing materials. Look at transportation. Look at electricity costs,” he said.

“See the condition of the roads in Nigeria, and above all, see the level of insecurity that has been pervading this country.”

The ACF official, who said he had travelled to parts of the Northeast, North-Central and Northwest, also linked insecurity to the worsening economic conditions, particularly its impact on agriculture and rural livelihoods.

According to him, insecurity has increasingly made farming and other basic economic activities difficult in several communities.

Mohammed-Baba also faulted the administration for repeatedly attributing the country’s current challenges to previous governments, arguing that political leaders seeking power should have assessed the challenges they would inherit and developed solutions before assuming office.

“That is precisely why we have a democracy. You identify there are problems, and you think you have the answer. You go out, canvass for votes. You get it, and now you spend reminding us other leaders have faced these problems,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government to accept responsibility for its performance and provide Nigerians with a candid assessment of the impact of its policies.

“There is no doubt that if the government were to go into the room, look at itself in the mirror, and tell us honestly whether it has performed optimally or near satisfactorily, I am sure the answer will be negative,” he said.