Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, warning that the administration’s “harsh neoliberal policies” have deepened poverty and effectively wiped out the country’s middle class.

Falana, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, said the President’s policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and currency liberalisation, have worsened the cost-of-living crisis for Nigerians.

He said, “I have seen the President ask APC governors to ‘wet the ground’ more, but as far as the masses of our people are concerned, things are getting tougher by the day because of the harsh economic crisis in the country, which the president recognise that Nigerians all over the country are complaining that things are getting tougher for them.

“Because of the religious implementation of neoliberal policies by the government, poverty is on the ascendancy. That will require a review of these policies.”

Falana condemned the government’s continued drive towards privatisation, stating it runs contrary to efforts to reduce income inequality.

He stated, “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.

“Most Nigerians cannot afford three square meals a day. The middle class has been wiped out by the neoliberal policies of the government.

He urged the government to “go back to the drawing board” and reconsider policies influenced by international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank.

“It is in the interest of the government to review its policies as soon as possible,” he stated.

Falana also called for urgent legal backing for social welfare programmes to alleviate the current hardship, referencing the National Social Investment Programme, which was codified under the Social Investment Programme Agency Act in 2023.

“To eradicate poverty, we must begin by implementing welfare laws,” he said.

The NSIP includes schemes such as N-Power, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, school feeding initiatives, and conditional cash transfers to vulnerable households.

“President Tinubu should be able to persuade the governors to codify social investment programmes and enact them into law,” he said.

______________________________________________________________________ “Timely And Groundbreaking” — Babalola, Nnawuchi Release Casebook On Privacy & Data Protection In NigeriaA timely new publication, Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria, co-authored by Olumide Babalola and Uchenna Nnawuchi,📘Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria is now available on Amazon:https://a.co/d/8TmFZrd ______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation ______________________________________________________________________ “Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers: A Comprehensive Guide”, authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626   _____________________________________________________________________