The Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Mr James Adeshina, has called for adjustments to some economic policies to ease hardship.
Adeshina made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.
He said the government deserved recognition for taking difficult decisions on fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms and fiscal restructuring.
He added that the reforms had changed the country’s macroeconomic environment, including increased government revenue and efforts toward economic stability.
“As an opposition political stakeholder, my responsibility is not to condemn everything the government does simply because we are in opposition.
“Where a policy is beneficial, we should acknowledge it; where it is hurting Nigerians, we must speak up,” he said.
Adeshina said economic reforms should ultimately be measured by their impact on the living conditions and productivity of ordinary Nigerians.
He expressed concern that improvements in macroeconomic indicators had not sufficiently translated into better living standards for many citizens.
“My major concern is that macroeconomic improvements have not yet translated sufficiently into improved living standards for the average Nigerian,” he said.
According to him, many families are still struggling with rising costs of food, transportation, housing, electricity and healthcare.
“Macroeconomic stability is important, but it must be translated into microeconomic prosperity,” Adeshina said.
He urged the Federal Government to adjust some economic decisions where necessary to reduce the burden on citizens while sustaining measures aimed at stabilising the economy.
Adeshina called for measures to reduce the cost of doing business, strengthen local manufacturing and agriculture, and make electricity and other energy sources more affordable and reliable.
He also urged the government to create more productive jobs, particularly for young Nigerians, improve transportation infrastructure and provide stronger support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The PRP chairman called for stronger social protection for vulnerable citizens, greater transparency in public revenue management and a review of government expenditure.
He urged the government to improve security to enable farmers and businesses to operate effectively and contribute to economic growth.
Adeshina said the administration should move beyond economic stabilisation and give greater attention to policies that directly improve citizens’ welfare and purchasing power.
He said the benefits of economic growth should be reflected in Nigerians’ daily lives through affordable basic services, employment opportunities and a more favourable environment for businesses.
“As an opposition stakeholder, I am not against economic reforms. I am against reforms measured only by government balance sheets while those supposed to benefit from them continued to struggle,” he said.
Adeshina said the success of any economic reform should ultimately be measured by whether it made Nigerians better off, more secure and economically productive. (NAN)
