A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ayodele Arise has explained that bold economic reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have been impactful to the Nigerian economy compared to his predecessors despite criticisms from opposition party stalwarts.
Arise made the remarks at the weekend while speaking with journalists, amid sustained criticism of the Tinubu administration by opposition figures.
The former senator, who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, said the president’s policy decisions have had a positive impact on economic growth and social development.
“From my position, I can say that the decisions of Mr. President have benefited many Nigerians,” Arise said.
“We can see positive movement in economic growth, supported by statistics available to the public,” he added.
He cited a reduction in inflation and increased funding for critical institutions such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as evidence of progress.
According to him, the student loan scheme has enabled many young Nigerians to access tertiary education, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent qualified students from going to school.
Arise also linked improved stability in the university system to the Tinubu administration’s engagement with academic and non-academic unions, including ASUU and NASU.
He said academic disruptions had reduced, allowing students to complete programs within the stipulated time.
“Before now, students spent six or seven years on a four-year course, which contributed to brain drain,” he said, adding: “today, there is greater certainty that students can complete their studies on time, which has helped to curb that trend.”
On governance at the grassroots, Arise said President Tinubu’s insistence on financial autonomy for local governments was aimed at accelerating development in rural areas. He noted that allowing councils direct access to their funds would enhance service delivery in areas such as road construction, healthcare, and primary education.
“For the first time, local governments can meaningfully impact the lives of people at the grassroots,” he said, adding that councils are now better positioned to be accountable to their communities.
The APC chieftain also defended the removal of the fuel subsidy, describing it as a difficult but necessary decision that ended years of abuse and revenue leakages.
“Only a courageous leader could take that step and stand by it,” Arise said, alleging that the subsidy regime previously benefited a small group of individuals through fraudulent practices.
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