Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), yesterday urged Nigerians to mobilse and demand the dividends of democracy, warning that the country cannot continue to prioritise the welfare of political elites at the expense of the economy and ordinary citizens.
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Speaking on Channels Television, Falana condemned the government’s economic policies, mismanagement of public funds, and what he described as the persistent deception of Nigerians by successive administrations.
“At all times, it is a boom for the ruling class but for the people it is doom. Nigerians must mobilise this time around to demand the dividends of democracy. You cannot improve the condition of members of the political class to the detriment of the national economy,” he said.
Falana lamented that Nigeria has been trapped in a cycle of failed economic reforms since the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) imposed by General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) in 1986, under pressure from the IMF and World Bank.
“Nearly forty years later, we are treading the same dangerous path. The government merely gives failed policies new names to deceive the people. We are told to suffer temporarily for a future boom — but that boom always benefits the ruling class, never the people,” he stated.
He accused the current administration of repeating past mistakes by simultaneously devaluing the naira, removing subsidies, and increasing salaries and allowances of political office holders — a combination he described as provocative and economically reckless.
Falana also questioned why the 2024 budget, which has technically expired, is still being implemented while projects for 2025 are already underway.
He faulted the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for failing to perform its constitutional duty under Section 70 to fix the salaries and allowances of public officers, arguing that the executive should not unilaterally review salaries.
He stressed that any salary review must be holistic, covering public and civil servants and providing measures to cushion the effects of harsh economic reforms.
Falana further highlighted several welfare laws that remain underfunded or unimplemented, including the National Social Investment Programme Act, which provides for cash transfers, school feeding, and empowerment programmes; the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which currently receives just 1 per cent of consolidated revenue; and the National Health Insurance Authority Act of 2022, which mandates universal health coverage.
He also cited laws establishing senior citizens’ centres and guaranteeing education for physically challenged children, insisting that these programmes are statutory obligations that must be funded.
“The removal of subsidies has tripled statutory allocations. Federal, state, and local governments must reflect that increase in social services,” he said.
On monetary policy, Falana urged the government to strengthen the naira, curb the illegal use of the US dollar for local transactions, and consider joining BRICS to reduce dollar dependency.
He decried the practice of paying bribes and conducting transactions in foreign currency, which he said constitutes a criminal offence under Section 30 of the Central Bank Act.
Turning to politics, Falana condemned what he called the abnormality of early campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that governance is being sacrificed for politicking.
“The law cannot cover every situation. INEC must draft rules and regulations to stop this illegality and charge violators to court. Disobeying a court order amounts to contempt, and offenders should be jailed,” he insisted.
He faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for claiming helplessness, arguing that Section 95 of the Electoral Act and Paragraph F, Part I of the Constitution empower it to monitor campaigns and issue binding regulations.
Falana concluded by urging civil society organisations, labour unions, and professional bodies to intensify pressure on the government to realign its policies toward citizens’ welfare.
“You cannot devalue the currency, dollarise the economy, remove subsidies, and then raise politicians’ pay. That is provocative. Nigerians must rise and demand what is rightfully theirs,” he declared.
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