Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has acknowledged that the Federal Government’s economic reforms have placed considerable pressure on Nigerian households, while defending the administration’s decision to tackle longstanding economic challenges.

Gbajabiamila said the removal of the petrol subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange market were necessary to address structural weaknesses in the economy and secure Nigeria’s long-term economic future.

He spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the unveiling of the administration’s 2027–2031 electoral roadmap, titled, “From Reforms to Prosperity Agenda”.

While admitting the hardship associated with the policies, the Chief of Staff argued that avoiding difficult economic decisions would have further weakened the country’s prospects.

“Now, those decisions have placed real pressure on households. We must speak honestly about that experience because the people living through it deserve to be heard. And nobody should have to pretend that life is easy at the moment,” he said.

Gbajabiamila distinguished between politicians who prioritise winning elections and statesmen who make difficult decisions in the long-term interest of their countries.

He argued that Tinubu could have maintained the existing economic policies to avoid immediate public disapproval but instead chose to confront longstanding economic distortions.

“If he came in as a politician and decided to govern as a politician, he would have continued on the cruise, on the path that we were taking.

“But instead, knowing full well the immediate consequences, he decided he would govern as a leader,” he said.

He, however, stressed that the success of the reforms would ultimately depend on their ability to translate economic improvements into better living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives described the administration’s new electoral roadmap as an ambitious document reflecting Tinubu’s political philosophy and commitment to long-term national development.

He said its central objective was to build an economy where hard work guarantees a decent livelihood and every Nigerian has a fair opportunity to succeed.

“At the heart of this manifesto is my abiding conviction that every Nigerian should be able to share. Your country should give your best efforts a fair chance.

“A manifesto, in its strictest sense, is simply a contract between the people and the leader,” Gbajabiamila said.

He identified interventions in human capital development, social protection, taxation and electricity as key components of the administration’s efforts to expand economic opportunities.

Gbajabiamila cited initiatives such as N-Power and the student loan scheme, saying they were designed to improve access to opportunities and reduce the financial burden on young Nigerians.

On taxation, he said the government’s reforms were intended to promote fiscal fairness by easing the burden on low-income earners and qualifying small businesses.

He also highlighted the Electricity Act, which empowers states to establish and regulate their electricity markets, describing it as a major intervention to attract investment and improve access to power.

The Chief of Staff added that the administration was committed to creating an environment where young Nigerians could pursue their ambitions without depending on political connections or patronage.

He urged members and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defend the administration’s record and engage Nigerians directly on its policies.

According to him, the ruling party must be prepared to account for its performance and convince voters through its achievements rather than political rhetoric.

“The party asking to continue in government must be prepared to answer the people whose mandate it seeks.

“We must earn support through the quality of work, through the quality of our case and the seriousness of our conduct,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said the 2027 general election would give Nigerians an opportunity to decide whether to sustain the administration’s reform agenda or return to what he described as short-term political approaches.