Tinubu’s Economic Reforms Need Time to Yield Results, Says CHEI-IST Boss

A non-governmental organization, the Continuous Human Empowerment Initiative, Inclusive Support for Tinubu (CHEI-IST), has urged Nigerians to exercise patience with President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, insisting that deep structural reforms require time to produce results.

Speaking during a media interaction with the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) in Abuja on Wednesday, CHEI-IST National Coordinator Dr. Agu Michael acknowledged current economic hardships but maintained that current measures could yield positive outcomes if sustained.

Analogy of Economic Recovery

Using a medical analogy, Dr. Michael—a practicing physician—compared Nigeria’s economic state to a patient suffering from multiple severe injuries:

• Patience Required: “The mistake we would make is for a man with multiple fractures to believe that immediately he gets to the emergency room, he will be well,” he noted, explaining that diagnosis, stabilizing treatment, and physical recovery require time.
• Civic Engagement: He stated that while CHEI-IST is an empowerment initiative, political stability and sound leadership directly impact its grassroots operations in healthcare, youth development, and agriculture.

Key Policy Recommendations

Dr. Michael outlined several critical structural adjustments needed alongside macroeconomic reforms:

• Primary Healthcare Overhaul: Rather than building new centers, the government should focus on equipping, staffing, and modernizing existing primary healthcare facilities nationwide.
• Stemming Brain Drain (“Japa”): To curb the emigration of medical professionals, he advocated for improved working conditions, modern equipment, and government-backed credit facilities to help local doctors establish private practices.
• Grassroots Governance: He called for full local government autonomy, arguing that empowered local councils are best positioned to deliver direct development and security solutions to rural communities.

Calling on citizens to remain actively engaged in the democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections, Dr. Michael urged Nigerians to focus on sustainable self-reliance and policy engagement rather than temporary political handouts.