Nigerian Economic Policies ‘Benefit Wealthy,’ Says Rights Lawyer

Abuja, Nigeria – A prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has sharply criticised the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, arguing they have disproportionately benefited the rich while exacerbating hardship for ordinary citizens.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, contrasted the optimism among top government officials with the widespread economic struggles faced by most Nigerians.

“For members of the government—and I’m talking of top officials—it’s been very rosy,” Falana stated. “Of course, for the rich, the bourgeoisie, things are getting better. But for the masses of our people, things are getting tougher because they are going through an excruciating economic crisis.”

While acknowledging President Tinubu’s repeated appeals for public patience, Falana insisted that such pleas were an insufficient substitute for policies rooted in the nation’s realities.

“In fairness to the President, on many occasions, he has asked Nigerians to bear with him, to exercise patience, that our economic programme will lead to prosperity,” Falana noted, adding, “The government itself realises that there is a crisis in town, that people are hungry, that many are about to withdraw their children from school because of the rigid implementation of neoliberal policies dictated or endorsed by the IMF and World Bank.”

The senior lawyer also took aim at the decision to devalue the naira, highlighting its detrimental impact on the cost of living. “If you devalue the currency of a country that is import-oriented, you are going to have an astronomical rise in the price of goods, and that is what has happened to our country,” he explained.

Falana called for Nigeria to abandon prescriptions from Bretton Woods institutions, urging the government to “have confidence in Nigeria so that Nigerians can be given the opportunity to run this country in the interest of our people.”

He further encouraged citizens to actively monitor government budgets and hold public officials accountable for their implementation. “Nigerians must take these budgets, identify the items one by one, and ensure we follow up and monitor their execution,” he concluded.