Despite criticism from prominent members of the opposition party, Senator Ayodele Arise, a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has clarified that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s audacious economic reforms have had a greater influence on Nigeria’s economy than those of his predecessors.
Ayodele made the remarks at the weekend while speaking with journalists, amid sustained criticism of the Tinubu administration by opposition figures.
The former senator, who served as the representative for the Ekiti North Senatorial District from 2007 to 2011, claimed that the president’s policy choices have improved social and economic advancement.
Join our WhatsApp community
“From my position, I can say that the decisions of Mr. President have benefited many Nigerians,” Arise said.
“We can see positive movement in economic growth, supported by statistics available to the public,” he added.
As proof of achievement, he pointed to lower inflation and more financing for important organisations like the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
He claims that the student loan program has made it possible for many young Nigerians to pursue higher education, guaranteeing that qualified students are not prevented from attending school due to financial limitations.
Ayodele also connected the Tinubu administration’s involvement with academic and non-academic unions, including as ASUU and NASU, to increased stability in the university system.
According to him, there are now fewer academic disturbances, which enables students to finish their studies on schedule.
“Before now, students spent six or seven years on a four-year course, which contributed to brain drain,” he said, adding: “today, there is greater certainty that students can complete their studies on time, which has helped to curb that trend.”
Join our WhatsApp community
Regarding grassroots governance, he stated that President Tinubu’s demand for local governments to have financial autonomy was intended to hasten rural development. He pointed out that giving municipalities immediate access to their cash would improve the provision of services in sectors like basic education, healthcare, and road development.
“For the first time, local governments can meaningfully impact the lives of people at the grassroots,” he said, adding that councils are now better positioned to be accountable to their communities.
The APC chieftain also defended the removal of the fuel subsidy, describing it as a difficult but necessary decision that ended years of abuse and revenue leakages.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
