Minister tok say Tinubu reforms dey work as support groups back 2027 re-election

Di Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, don again defend President Bola Tinubu economic reforms, tok say di sacrifices Nigerians dey make don start to pay off.

She tok for Abuja on Tuesday for one press conference before di launch of one book on di President reform agenda, wey PBAT Door-to-Door Movement promote. Di book na to show di administration policies and achievements for di past three years.

According to di minister, Tinubu take office on May 29, 2023, into one economy wey get deep structural problems, weak revenue system and public finances wey dey under strain. She tok say petrol subsidy dey chop money wey dem suppose use for schools, hospitals and roads, while di tax system put di heaviest burden on di people wey e suppose protect.

"He could have passed the problem to the next generation. He chose to confront it," she tok.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim tok say di government no dey take di hardship lightly. She point to rising external reserves, easing inflation and renewed interest from investors as early signs say di reforms dey work.

Wetin di government tok say go reach ordinary Nigerians

Di minister name di Nigerian Education Loan Fund, di new tax laws and financial autonomy for local governments as policies wey dem mean to carry di gains down to ordinary citizens. She tok say di tax laws dey shield low-income earners and small businesses, while council autonomy put money closer to communities.

On Nigeria growing debt, she argue say borrowing no be automatically failure, cite di United States as one heavily indebted country wey still remain major economy. She tok say dem suppose judge loans by di value of wetin dem fund, and call for careful debt management.

She also address reports say di number of out-of-school children don climb from 14 million to 20 million. She describe di problem as serious and tok say di government dey push STEM education, technical and vocational training, early childhood learning and skills acquisition across ministries.

Di minister warn say relief fit no arrive at once, because delivery depend on funding, administrative changes and coordination between agencies.

Dem list Tinubu as Special Guest of Honour at di book launch. Aliko Dangote na Chief Launcher, Abdul Samad Rabiu na Co-Chief Launcher, and Government Ekpemupolo, wey dem know as Tompolo, na Chief Host.

Support groups line up behind 2027

Di defence of di reforms come as several support groups push di President re-election bid. For Delta State, di Integrity Group of Nigeria, wey dem also know as Renewed Hope for MORE Agenda Ambassadors, inaugurate one campaign council wey dem tag "APC All The Way."

Its Director-General, Dr Oke Idawene, tok say di country no fit afford to start over, argue say di reforms don begin deliver and say Nigerians suppose return Tinubu in 2027. He praise di administration road projects and its efforts on security, and commend Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State for his infrastructure and workers' welfare programmes.

For Anambra State, di Concerned Creative Artists and Entertainers Initiative for Tinubu, one affiliate of di Tinubu Again Movement, urge creatives to back di President. Its convener, Dr Ejezie Rollas, tok say di creation of di Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy and di renovation of di National Theatre, now di Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, na gains for di sector. He, however, tok say practitioners still need accessible funding, skills training, protection of intellectual property and better working conditions.

For one separate interview with Tribune, Otunba Adejare Rewane Adegbenro, one Tinubu supporter, tok say di hardship na temporary and say di opposition no get clear message. He also tok say di government don communicate its reforms poorly and suppose cut di cost of governance.

Wetin go happen next: Di book launch expected to draw top business figures and political allies, while di support groups tok say dem go keep mobilising at ward level before di 2027 elections.