As President Bola Tinubu marked his second year in office, a stark divergence emerged between his administration's optimistic self-assessment and the scathing critique from Organized Labour. While the President, in a national broadcast, confidently asserted that Nigeria's economic reforms are "working" and that the nation is "on course to building a greater, more economically stable nation," the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) painted a grim picture of widespread suffering and hardship.
NLC President Joe Ajaero vehemently dismissed Tinubu's "renewed hope" narrative, arguing that his policies have merely recycled "failed neoliberal experiments" and plunged over 150 million Nigerians into multidimensional poverty. Ajaero specifically highlighted the immediate and devastating impact of the petrol subsidy removal, which sent fuel prices skyrocketing and triggered hyperinflation, causing immense pain for ordinary citizens. He also criticized the unification of exchange rates, contending that it accelerated the naira's collapse and imported inflation, making basic goods unaffordable. The NLC lamented that despite promises of reinvestment, Nigerians have only witnessed escalating costs, business closures, and pervasive hunger. Furthermore, the labour movement accused the government of increasing hostility towards organized labour, citing unpaid wage awards, intimidation, and disregard for court rulings. Insecurity, with its rampant kidnappings and banditry, was also flagged as a critical concern that undermines any claims of economic progress.
Echoing the NLC's sentiments, various state-level labour leaders expressed their disbelief at the President's claims. From Kwara to Akwa Ibom, Benue, Jigawa, and Kaduna, union chairmen pointed to the persistent high cost of living, widening exchange rate gaps, inadequate minimum wage, and pervasive insecurity as undeniable evidence that the "worst days" are far from over. They demanded tangible results over rhetoric, emphasizing that economic performance should be measured by the lived experiences of citizens, not just macroeconomic statistics.
Conversely, the All Progressives Congress (APC) vehemently defended President Tinubu's record, accusing the NLC of lacking objectivity and being politically motivated. Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), dismissed the NLC's assessment as "superficial remarks" and "sponsored." He lauded Tinubu for making "tough, necessary decisions" and being transparent about the challenges facing the nation. Arodiogbu commended ongoing infrastructure projects, particularly road construction, as positive steps with potential for job creation and improved trade, while also stressing the importance of strengthening research and development. He maintained that Tinubu's reforms, though painful, are crucial for the country's long-term prosperity, contrasting them with what he described as populist policies of the past.
Despite the government's efforts to mitigate the impact of reforms through initiatives like the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas program and palliative measures, the NLC found them "grossly inadequate." The ongoing debate underscores the profound disconnect between the government's perception of progress and the palpable economic hardships faced by a significant portion of the Nigerian populace, leaving the future of the nation's economic trajectory a subject of intense and often acrimonious discussion.
