Business Day accuses Tinubu of using welfare aid for election purposes
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Business Day Nigeria
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is accused in a Business Day Nigeria editorial of using household support measures as an electoral advantage, after the social effects of economic reforms. The article notably criticises the removal of the fuel subsidy and fixed exchange rate, just over two months before the presidential election, without detailing the announced measures.
Nigerian daily Business Day accuses President Bola Tinubu of using welfare measures for electoral purposes, just over two months before the 2027 presidential election. In an editorial, the newspaper says that plans announced to ease the population’s difficulties have come too late and amount to a pre-election strategy.
Business Day links these difficulties to the economic reforms introduced by Tinubu, notably the removal of the fuel subsidy and the abandonment of the fixed exchange rate. The newspaper acknowledges that there were economic arguments in favour of these changes, but criticises them for not being accompanied by sufficient measures to protect vulnerable people. It compares the preparation of the reforms with the British system of impact assessments, which examines the costs, benefits and risks of public policies.
The criticism comes as debate over the programmes of candidates in the 2027 presidential election has intensified. On 1 November, Nigerian commentator Rufai Oseni criticised the lack of programmes from Nigerian candidates.
