Shettima Urges Tinubu Government to Address Nigerians’ Concerns Over Economic Reforms

Politics | Economy | Nigeria | October 30, 2026

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the Federal Government to pay greater attention to Nigerians’ concerns about ongoing economic reforms, acknowledging that government policies must deliver measurable improvements in citizens’ lives to sustain public confidence.

The Vice President's remarks come amid continuing public concerns over rising living costs, economic hardship, unemployment, business difficulties and the impact of major policy changes introduced by President Bola Tinubu's administration.

According to the report by LEADERSHIP, Shettima made the appeal on Thursday at The Duke’s Masterclass 2026, held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. He was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Dr Tope Fasua.

Government Must Demonstrate Results, Not Just Announce Policies

Shettima maintained that the success of the administration's economic reforms should not be judged solely by the announcement or implementation of policies.

He argued that the government must demonstrate credible evidence of progress, communicate its decisions clearly and listen to the experiences of Nigerians affected by the reforms.

He also stressed that public confidence could only be strengthened when citizens understood the objectives of government policies and could see tangible improvements in their economic circumstances.

The Vice President challenged Nigeria's political elite, professionals and middle-class citizens to acknowledge the difficulties confronting ordinary Nigerians rather than dismissing their complaints.

He emphasised that their responsibility should not be to defend every government decision uncritically but to encourage constructive national discussions.

Shettima Defends Tinubu's Economic Reforms

The Vice President defended several major economic policies introduced by President Tinubu, including:

Removal of the petrol subsidy.
Liberalisation of the foreign exchange market.
Fiscal restructuring.
Increased revenue mobilisation.

According to Shettima, these measures were introduced to correct longstanding economic distortions, improve public resource allocation, attract investments and strengthen Nigeria's productive capacity.

However, he acknowledged the importance of adjusting policy implementation in response to evidence and changing economic circumstances.

Electricity, Insecurity and Business Challenges Remain Concerns

Shettima also identified several structural challenges affecting Nigeria's economic development.

These include unreliable electricity supply, inefficient transportation systems, insecurity, limited access to finance and weaknesses in the education and public institutions.

He called for increased domestic production, stronger export activities and improved support for small businesses.

He further identified banking, financial technology, oil and gas, agriculture, real estate, construction, commodity exports and the creative industry as sectors capable of generating employment and attracting investments.

Other Speakers Raise Concerns Over Accountability

The event also featured contributions from prominent business and public figures.

Bimbo Ashiru, Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, warned that poor leadership decisions and inadequate crisis preparedness could damage institutional credibility.

Kola Adesina, Chairman of AXA Mansard and Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, criticised Nigeria's persistent electricity challenges.

He argued that institutions should be judged by the services they deliver rather than the explanations they provide for continued failures.

Adesina also raised concerns about corruption, inflated public contracts and accountability failures, warning that these practices undermine public confidence and endanger lives.

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku also spoke about leadership, crisis management and the importance of responsible communication.

Factful24 Analysis: Nigerians Need Tangible Economic Relief, Not Just Reassurances

Shettima's intervention raises an important question about the direction of Nigeria's economic reforms: At what point will the sacrifices demanded of Nigerians begin to translate into meaningful improvements in their everyday lives?

Since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, the government has defended its economic policies as necessary measures to correct structural weaknesses in the Nigerian economy.

While subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms and increased revenue mobilisation have been presented as important steps towards economic recovery, their effects on ordinary households and businesses remain a major subject of public debate.

For millions of Nigerians, economic progress is not measured simply by government revenue, investment announcements or policy declarations. It is measured by the affordability of food, transportation, electricity, healthcare, education, housing and other necessities.

The Federal Government therefore faces an important responsibility: ensuring that economic reforms produce measurable improvements in household purchasing power, employment opportunities and business productivity.

Equally important is transparency in public expenditure, accountability for government contracts and the effective deployment of additional public revenue.

Ultimately, Nigerians need more than explanations about why economic reforms are necessary. They need evidence that those reforms are improving their living conditions.

The credibility of the Tinubu administration's economic agenda will increasingly depend on whether its promises of long-term economic recovery translate into relief for citizens today.