Labour, APC Clash Over Tinubu’s Midterm Review

In a spirited midterm exchange, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigeria’s labour movement are at odds over President Bola Tinubu’s performance two years into office. On Thursday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) delivered a scathing assessment of the Tinubu administration, accusing it of recycling failed economic policies that have deepened poverty and hardship.

NLC President Joe Ajaero dismissed Tinubu’s claims of progress, asserting that the government’s economic reforms, rather than renewing hope, have pushed over 150 million Nigerians into multidimensional poverty. He cited the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of exchange rates as disastrous policies that have driven inflation, collapsed the naira, and crippled local industries.

“When President Bola Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, he promised a new dawn. But two years later, all we see is increased suffering. The administration’s so-called reforms have turned Nigeria into a bargain basement economy while citizens skip meals and businesses shut down,” Ajaero stated.

In contrast, Tinubu, during a national address marking his second year in office, defended his record. He acknowledged the pain caused by some of his decisions but insisted they are beginning to yield results. He pointed to rising external reserves and ongoing infrastructure projects as indicators of progress. “Our economic reforms are working. We are on course to building a greater, more economically stable nation,” the President said.

APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, dismissed the NLC’s criticisms as politically motivated and lacking substance. “The NLC’s statement was sponsored and unprofessional. They chose to grandstand rather than engage with the real issues. The President has taken bold, necessary steps to fix the economy,” Arodiogbu argued.

Despite measures like direct cash transfers and the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal, labour leaders say these interventions are inadequate. The NLC noted that the high cost of living, inflation, and persistent insecurity have left most Nigerians worse off.

“The naira has collapsed. Prices are out of reach. Families are starving. What hope are we renewing?” said Chris Onyeka, NLC Assistant General Secretary. He described the economic direction as driven by the interests of foreign creditors and local elites, not the Nigerian people.

Labour leaders across the country echoed similar sentiments. From Lagos to Benue, Kwara to Bauchi, they criticised the administration for failing to improve the quality of life. Many cited continued insecurity, unemployment, and rising costs as evidence that Tinubu’s reforms are not delivering tangible results.

In Akwa Ibom, NLC Chairman Sunny James challenged the government to present concrete achievements, not rhetoric. “Nigerians no longer want promises. We want to see action. Where is the evidence that the worst is over?”

Gbenga Ekundayo, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Lagos, added that Nigeria must shift focus from consumption to production. “Removing fuel subsidies without ramping up local production only imports inflation. We need to support manufacturing and agriculture,” he said, while also warning of a growing disconnect between the government’s austerity message and its own spending patterns.

Meanwhile, the APC maintained its defence of Tinubu’s leadership. Arodiogbu argued that while the administration’s policies may not be popular, they are essential for long-term recovery. “Tinubu is not chasing applause; he’s making hard choices for the future. He’s transparent with Nigerians and committed to change,” he said.