Use Remaining 8 Months In Office To Alleviate Nigerians’ Sufferings, Atiku Tells Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu to use what he described as his remaining eight months in office to take urgent measures to ease the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

Atiku made the call in a press conference on Friday, while arguing that the success of economic reforms should ultimately be measured by their impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.

“Reform must ultimately be judged by what it does to the lives of the people. It should expand production, create opportunity and improve living standards. It cannot become an endless explanation for hardship,” he said.

“That is why I am calling on Mr. Bola Tinubu to act now. He has approximately eight months remaining in office.

“Bola, I want you to use those eight months to give Nigerians relief.”

Atiku also urged the President not to reject policy proposals simply because they originated from a political opponent, particularly proposals aimed at reducing the cost of petrol.

He said Tinubu should be willing to adopt his proposed government intervention, even if the President chose to rename the initiative or take political credit for it.

“Bola Tinubu should not be ashamed to do what is necessary to lower the price of petrol simply because Atiku Abubakar proposed a government intervention,” he said.

“He should just take the idea. Rename it if he wishes. And even take the credit.

“What matters to me is that Nigerians pay less.

“A sensible idea does not become a bad idea because it came from your opponent.”

According to Atiku, government intervention should be considered where it can bring down prices and reduce pressure on households.

“If responsible intervention can lower prices, intervene. If changing course can help Nigerian families, change course,” he said.

He also cautioned the Federal Government against relying excessively on palliatives to cushion the effects of economic policies, arguing that emergency assistance could not substitute for sustainable economic reforms.

“And Nigerians do not need another elaborate palliative ceremony,” Atiku said.

“Do not make life unbearable and then distribute bags of rice as evidence of compassion.

“Do not break a man’s legs, hand him crutches and demand applause for providing mobility.”

He added: “Palliatives manage pain. Good policy addresses the source of the pain.”

Atiku cited rising transportation and energy costs as examples of the pressures confronting households and businesses, saying cash transfers and other forms of temporary assistance could not permanently compensate workers whose incomes were being eroded by higher living costs.

“A bag of rice cannot repair an economy in which transportation costs outrun salaries,” he said.

“A cash transfer cannot permanently compensate a worker whose income is continuously eroded by energy costs.”

The former vice president also expressed concern over the planned phase-out of electricity subsidies from 2027, arguing that households and businesses were already struggling with the cost and reliability of power.

“And as if the pressure on families were not enough, Nigerians are now being told that electricity subsidies will be phased out from 2027,” he said.

“Electricity is already expensive. Families are calculating how long their units will last. Small businesses are struggling to keep the lights on.”

He listed barbers, tailors, frozen-food sellers, welders and manufacturers among those whose businesses depend heavily on electricity.

“The barber needs electricity for his clippers. The tailor needs it for her machines. The frozen-food seller needs it to preserve her stock. The welder needs it for his equipment.

“The manufacturer needs it to keep the factory alive.”

Atiku warned the government against repeating what he described as the mistakes associated with the petrol price increases by imposing higher energy costs before considering how households and businesses would cope.

“The lesson of petrol must not be repeated with electricity,” he said.

“Do not remove first and think later. Do not impose the pain first and search for palliatives afterwards.

“When energy becomes unaffordable, everything becomes unaffordable.”

He said the remaining months of the Tinubu administration could still make a significant difference to Nigerians despite the relatively short period.

“The President should know that, eight months may sound short inside Aso Rock. But eight months is a very long time when you are living from hand to mouth,” Atiku said.

“Use that time to reduce the burden on Nigerians.”

Atiku further offered to provide the Tinubu administration with policy ideas and technical input that could help reduce the cost of living, saying Nigerians should not have to wait for another administration to benefit from potentially useful policies.

“And if your government requires policy ideas or technical input on how to bring relief, I am prepared to make mine available,” he said.

“Nigerians do not have to wait for another administration before they benefit from an idea that can help them today.

“If you need the framework, I will provide it.

“Implement it under your government. Give it whatever name you choose. Take the credit.

“I ask for only one thing: Let Nigerians breathe.”

Atiku said his political contest with Tinubu should not prevent him from supporting measures that could improve the welfare of Nigerians.

“I am prepared to compete with you politically. But I will never compete with the welfare of the Nigerian people,” he said.

“The presidency may be contested. The wellbeing of Nigerians should never be.”

Looking ahead to the 2027 election, Atiku said that, if elected, his administration would introduce a transparent production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians from May 29, 2027.

He explained the proposed policy using the example of support for domestic rice production.

“Think of a Nigerian rice miller. Government helps lower the cost of milling so the rice can sell for less. More families can afford it. As sales grow, the miller buys more rice from Nigerian farmers and employs more Nigerians to process, package and transport it,” he said.

“That means cheaper rice for families, more business for farmers and more jobs for Nigerians.”

He said his proposed petroleum intervention would follow the same principle, with government support tied specifically to products refined domestically.

“Our production subsidy will work the same way: government support must bring prices down. Only products confirmed to be refined in Nigeria will qualify. Imported products will not,” Atiku said.

He added that the proposed programme would operate within a fixed spending limit and would require legislative approval and independent audits.

“The programme will have a fixed spending limit, National Assembly approval and independent audits,” he said.