Protest against hunger as referendum on Tinubu’s policies

Although the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest abruptly came to an end, the undercurrent economic hardship is still reeling in Nigerian homes. The agitation for a review of the current administration’s economic policies is too loud to be ignored, KEHINDE OLATUNJI reports.

Fourteen months after resuming office, President Bola Tinubu’s policies recently came under public scrutiny and the verdict was not favourable.

Some Nigerians, led by various youth groups held a widespread protest that crippled commercial and social activities in many states. The protest against hunger saw13 people killed according to reports by Amnesty International and 700 protesters in the police net. Many private business concerns and public facilities worth several billions of Naira were also set ablaze and destroyed.

While many have argued that President Tinubu, since assuming office, has not done anything contrary to his campaign promises and saw the protest as a referendum against what Nigerians voted for, others believe that the implementation of the policies precipitated the crisis because of its unintended consequences making cost of living out of reach of many Nigerians.

Inflation has increased by 33 per cent in the last one year while cost of food items jumped by 44 per cent according to the reports of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Past governments – both military and civilian – have resisted the temptation of removing subsidies on amenities considered as social services by many Nigerians but Tinubu’s government is not pretentious that the era of subsidies on petroleum, electricity, foreign exchange has gone, leaving their prices to the vagaries of demand and supply.

Nigeria’s economic ideology has always been “a little to the left and a little to the right” but for Tinubu, since May 29, 2023, it has been a dash race to the right and neoliberalism is the answer.

Indeed, Tinubu’s economic policies have been likened to General Ibrahim Babangida’s Structural Adjustment Policy (SAP) that attempted to remove subsidies on all essential services and commodities, which was resisted by Nigerians through mass protest and industrial action that almost crippled his administration in May 1989.

To some analysts, Tinubunomics and SAP are not just the same, they are dictates of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) that have failed in many African countries. However, they have called on President Tinubu to learn some lessons from the protest tagged: #EndBadGovernance in Nigeria and review his policies and its implementation.

Although Tinubu has not seen anything wrong with all his policies and the way they have been implemented so far, the reason for his speech to douse tension and end the protest failed to address most of the demands of the protesters.

The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters, had demanded reversal of fuel prices, rejected N70,000 minimum wage, reversal of the hike in tertiary education fees by many institutions, disclosure of public officials’ salaries and benefits to deepen accountability and transparency.

Also, on the request list are electoral reforms, including the autonomy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and reforms in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They also demanded for constitutional reforms through scrapping of the 1999 Constitution and replacing it with a people-made constitution through a Sovereign National Conference, followed by a National Referendum, among other demands.
However, in sharp contradiction to the demands of the protesters, much of the President’s speech bordering on economy, a central theme of the ‘hunger protest’, was an aggregation of updates on ongoing schemes, which many have dismissed as mere paper concepts concerning the biting realities of national life.

Tinubu insisted that his administration has made “significant strides” in rebuilding the foundation of the economy to guarantee future “plenty and abundance” while mobilising funds creatively without adding to the burden of debt. Oil production, he said, had reached a new level, hitting an unprecedented 1.61 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, while fresh investments are pouring into the sector to increase the future.

Many have argued that there is no meeting point in protesters’ demands and Tinubu’s speech and urged the President to review his policies, citing the devastating impact on ordinary citizens. They argued that the government’s measures have only exacerbated the economic crisis, and that a more nuanced approach is needed to mitigate the suffering.

Speaking with The Guardian, Public Affairs Analyst, Bola Bolawole, urged the government to view the protests as “feedback” from the people, rather than a confrontation.

He emphasised that democracy requires listening to the views and opinions of citizens, and that government policies should be open to revision based on public feedback.

Bolawole stressed the importance of perception in public relations, noting that government’s policies and actions are not being well-received by the public. He advised the government to convince the people with superior arguments or, if necessary, accommodate their feelings and sensibilities.

Specifically, Bolawole suggested that the government reconsider its policies on fuel subsidy removal and Naira devaluation, which have caused widespread hardship. He proposed redirecting funds from the Federation Account to subsidise fuel and reduce the impact of the policy on ordinary citizens.

Additionally, Bolawole criticised the government’s decision to float the Naira, citing the negative experiences of the past, and urged a retreat

from IMF/World Bank-imposed conditionalities. 
He said, “While some are describing what happened as protests, I prefer to see and call it feedback. The term ‘protest’ connotes conflict, crisis, and enmity between contrasting forces. But if we describe it as ‘feedback’ from the people to their government or leaders, that is more appropriate, more positive and more conciliatory.

“So, the starting point is to set the parameters right. Government cannot kick against feedback. The people themselves must understand that feedback cannot achieve positive results in an atmosphere of bellicosity and animosity. You cannot claim to want to draw my attention to what you want me to do for you or what you think I am not doing well at daggers drawn. Once both sides understand this, the good intentions of both sides will propel understanding and partnership. ”

He noted that one of the positives of the removal of fuel subsidy is that it released funds being wasted on the bottomless pit and cesspool of corruption called fuel subsidy regime. “So, the three tiers of government now get two, three or more times what they used to receive from the federation account every month. Unfortunately, the impact is not felt anywhere. So, where is the money going? President Tinubu should reduce the humong- ous amount being shared to the three tiers of government and use what is cut back from it to subsidise fuel. That way, more people will benefit directly unlike the present situation where we do not see what the three tiers of government are doing with their enhanced statutory allocation .

“Also, an import-dependent economy cannot float its currency without coming to grief. Our experience with SAP of the Babangida era taught us that harsh lesson. That was the beginning of the ruination of the Naira. Why the Tinubu administration decided to return to it beats my imagination. You cannot continue to implement the same destructive policies and expect a different result. If it is not too late to beat a retreat from IMF/World Bank imposed conditionalities that have never done any one any good, the government should quickly do so.”

Legal practitioner and former National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Malachy Ugwummadu, acknowledged that the policies, including fuel subsidy removal, electricity tariff hike, and Naira devaluation, were part of President Tinubu’s manifesto. However, he expressed concerns about their originality and practicality, given their roots in International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditionalities.

The legal expert argued that these policies have been discredited by scholars for their ineffectiveness in developing economies, perpetuating poverty and backwardness. He emphasised the need for self-developed economic strategies tailored to Nigeria’s situation.

Ugwummadu believes that President Tinubu did not intend for these policies to be as draconian as they have turned out, but rather, they were not thoroughly evaluated for their repercussions. He warned that the President will be held accountable for the consequences of these policies, which have brought Nigerians to their knees and threatened the economy’s survival.

While Ugwummadu hoped for the President’s success, he cautioned that failure would lead to further crisis, requiring drastic measures to recover. He urged a rethink of these policies, advocating for a more nuanced approach to address the country’s economic challenges.

On his part, Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate in the last general elections, Adewole Adebayo, criticised both the protesters and President Tinubu for talking at cross-purposes and sidestepping the real issues at hand.

Adebayo argued that the protests are aimed at getting palliatives, which President Tinubu has already offered within the framework of his economic policies.

The presidential candidate expressed disappointment that opposition leaders and protesters lack ideological clarity on alternative policy frameworks that could bring about real solutions.

He said that the neoliberal establishment, including President Tinubu, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi, share the same flawed ideology that prioritises palliatives over meaningful change, noting the President is managing it even better than Obi and Atiku would have.

A public affairs analyst, Gboyega Adewuyi, noted that the way forward demands a fundamental shift in approach, one that prioritises empathy, inclusivity, and accountability.

He noted that President Tinubu must move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps to address the economic crisis, starting with a review of the policies that have brought us to this point.

He said, “This includes reconsidering the fuel subsidy removal and Naira devaluation, exploring alternative solutions that cushion the impact on ordinary Nigerians. It also requires a commitment to transparency and good governance, tackling the corruption and impunity that have long plagued our nation.”

Adewuyi added that the path ahead requires a willingness to listen, to engage in genuine dialogue with the people, and to acknowledge the legitimacy of their grievances. “Only then can we begin to rebuild trust and forge a consensus around a shared vision for Nigeria’s future. The alternative is a continued downward spiral, with potentially catastrophic consequences for our nation. The choice is clear; the time for action is now,” he said.