Atiku Challenges Tinubu's Economic Claims Amid Hardship

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rejected the presidency’s defense of President Bola Tinubu’s economic performance. He insists that the government’s claims of recovery do not match the reality of rising poverty, food insecurity, and worsening living conditions in the country.

Responding to a statement from the State House, Atiku said no amount of official statistics could convince Nigerians that the economy was getting better while many struggle to survive daily.

In a statement on Monday from his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress said the Tinubu-led government was celebrating macroeconomic gains without considering how its policies affect ordinary citizens.

“The State House celebrates macroeconomic indicators while ordinary Nigerians struggle with microeconomic realities. It speaks glowingly about GDP growth while families skip meals. It boasts of debt ratios while businesses shut their doors,” Atiku said.

The Wazirin Adamawa referred to findings from the International Monetary Fund, noting that 63 percent of Nigerians now live below the national poverty line. He added that about 27 million people faced food insecurity in late 2025.

He pointed out that the same IMF report acknowledged improvements in some reform areas but warned that poverty remains widespread. It also stated that social protection measures needed to be strengthened.

“Governments are not elected to improve spreadsheets. They are elected to improve lives. Nigerians cannot eat GDP. They cannot cook with exchange-rate adjustments,” he stressed.

Atiku also criticized the presidency’s claim that critics were using outdated economic data. He said Nigerians still feel the effects of policies introduced in 2024.

“The Tinubu administration is asking Nigerians to forget the very policies whose consequences they continue to endure every day. Economic policy is not a light switch,” he argued.

He further criticized the Federal Government’s defense of its borrowing program. He asked whether the borrowed funds had led to improved infrastructure, jobs, and living standards rather than just focusing on the size of public debt.

“If revenue has improved so dramatically; if subsidy has been removed; if tax collection has increased; and if debt servicing has supposedly become more manageable, why does this administration continue to borrow at record levels?” he asked.

Atiku questioned the benefits of removing fuel subsidies. He said while Nigerians accepted the need for reforms, they had not seen the promised improvements in public services.

“Government cannot ask citizens to celebrate sacrifice while the promised rewards remain invisible,” he stated.

He also criticized the administration’s claims about healthcare and education. He argued that projects and student loan programs alone cannot be considered complete reforms while millions still lack quality healthcare and education.

On infrastructure, Atiku said Nigerians would judge the government based on completed projects that lower the cost of doing business, not just on announcements.

He concluded that the presidency should focus less on defending its record and more on addressing the economic hardships that citizens face.

“Governments are not judged by the elegance of their press statements or the sophistication of their economic theories. They are judged by whether families can afford food, whether businesses can survive, whether young people can find jobs, whether communities are secure, and whether citizens have hope for tomorrow,” he maintained.

This exchange is part of a growing war of words between the presidency and Atiku over the economic reforms led by Tinubu. While the Federal Government claims that measures like fuel subsidy removal, exchange-rate reforms, and tax changes have stabilized the economy, opposition figures argue that these reforms have caused severe hardship for households and businesses without improving living standards.