“The Middle Class Has Been Wiped Out” — Falana Slams Tinubu’s Economic Policies

Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, warning that they have decimated Nigeria’s middle class and worsened poverty nationwide. Speaking on *Politics Today* on Channels Television on Monday, Falana attributed the country’s deepening economic hardship to what he described as the administration’s “harsh neoliberal policies.”

Falana argued that the government’s rigid embrace of these policies, including those recommended by international financial institutions, has only aggravated the suffering of ordinary Nigerians. “Because of the religious implementation of neoliberal policies by the government, poverty is on the rise. That will require a review of these policies,” he said.

He noted that despite President Tinubu’s recent acknowledgment of the difficult economic climate, the administration’s actions have continued to fuel public distress. “I have seen the President ask APC governors to ‘wet the ground’ more, but as far as the masses are concerned, things are getting tougher by the day,” Falana remarked. “Most Nigerians cannot afford three square meals a day. The middle class has been wiped out.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also condemned the government’s privatisation agenda, warning that it contradicts efforts to reduce income inequality. “You cannot be addressing income inequality in a country while handing over the nation’s resources to a few people in the name of privatisation,” he stated.

Since assuming office in May 2023, President Tinubu has implemented a series of reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of exchange rates. Though intended to stabilise the economy, these measures have triggered soaring inflation, food price hikes, and widespread financial strain for millions of Nigerians.

Falana urged the federal government to urgently reconsider its policy direction, especially in relation to prescriptions from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. “It is in the interest of the government to review its policies as soon as possible,” he said.

He also advocated for the immediate rollout and legal backing of social welfare programmes to ease the burden on vulnerable citizens. Pointing to the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), established under the 2023 Social Investment Programme Agency Act, Falana called on President Tinubu to collaborate with state governors to domesticate and enforce these initiatives.

“To eradicate poverty, we must begin by implementing welfare laws,” he said, referencing key components of the NSIP such as N-Power, school feeding, GEEP, and conditional cash transfers. Falana concluded by urging the government to return “to the drawing board” to ensure economic reforms serve the people and do not deepen inequality.