Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has responded to comments by Daniel Bwala on economic reforms and poverty.
Ibe, in a statement on Thursday, was reacting to Bwala’s admission on Channels Television that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms have pushed more Nigerians into poverty.
Ibe said the admission highlights the need to focus on the welfare of citizens in implementing economic policies.
“Policies are made for man, not man for policies. The purpose of economic reform is to improve human welfare,” he said.
He said that if policies have led to increased poverty, affected purchasing power, and increased the cost of food, transportation and electricity, they deserve review.
According to him, that is why Atiku has proposed a review of the current approach to petrol subsidy and electricity pricing, including a transparent, production-based subsidy framework that can reduce energy costs and provide relief to households and businesses.
“Reform must have a human face. Economic policies should serve the people,” Ibe said.
He said the measure of good governance is how positively policies transform the lives of citizens, not how the government defends them.
He added that Nigerians deserve relief and better living conditions, and that the government should prioritise policies that ease hardship.