{"id":130048,"date":"2026-10-16T05:54:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T04:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=130048"},"modified":"2026-10-16T05:54:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T04:54:27","slug":"nigerians-are-hungry-group-challenges-tinubus-economic-success-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/nigerians-are-hungry-group-challenges-tinubus-economic-success-claims\/","title":{"rendered":"Nigerians Are Hungry, Group Challenges Tinubu\u2019s Economic Success Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Godswill Michael<\/strong><\/div>\n
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The International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISSJHR) has challenged the economic success claims of President Bola Tinubu\u2019s administration, saying millions of Nigerians continue to grapple with hunger, rising living costs and declining purchasing power despite reported economic gains.<\/p>\n

The organisation urged the Federal Government to provide verifiable evidence that its economic reforms are improving household welfare, reducing poverty and creating jobs.<\/p>\n

In a statement on Thursday, ISSJHR\u2019s Founder and Chancellor, Comrade Omenazu Jackson, said economic progress should be measured by improvements in the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians rather than growth projections, investment inflows and fiscal indicators alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur concern is not to dismiss every positive economic indicator or deny that difficult reforms may be necessary. Rather, we demand that the government demonstrate clearly how these reforms are improving the living conditions of the people whose sacrifices are being invoked to justify them,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

The organisation said many households could no longer afford adequate food and other basic necessities, forcing families to reduce meal portions, compromise on nutrition and divert funds meant for healthcare and education to feeding.<\/p>\n

It also identified unemployment, high production costs, unreliable electricity supply and insecurity as factors undermining the potential benefits of the government\u2019s economic reforms.<\/p>\n

ISSJHR cautioned against interpreting a slowdown in inflation as evidence that Nigerians were becoming better off, noting that prices could continue to rise even when the rate of increase declined.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe government must not confuse a slower rate of price increases with a restoration of purchasing power,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

The group called on the Federal Government to publish accessible data comparing food prices with household incomes, minimum wages, pension payments and the cost of essential services to establish whether living standards were improving.<\/p>\n

On poverty, ISSJHR cited the National Bureau of Statistics\u2019 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index, which estimated that about 133 million Nigerians were multidimensionally poor.<\/p>\n

It also referenced a World Bank projection published in October 2025 that Nigeria\u2019s poverty rate could reach approximately 62 per cent in 2026, equivalent to about 141 million people.<\/p>\n

The organisation, however, stressed the need for transparent and credible assessments that distinguish between poverty measures, survey periods and methodologies.<\/p>\n

It challenged the government to disclose how many Nigerians had escaped poverty since the introduction of its reforms and how many households had recorded measurable improvements in food security, disposable income and access to essential services.<\/p>\n

\u201cISSJHR does not advocate the rejection of poverty statistics merely because they reveal an uncomfortable reality. Instead, we call for transparency, sound methodology and evidence-based evaluation,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

The organisation also questioned whether increased foreign investment was translating into higher domestic production, job creation and improved living standards.<\/p>\n

It said Nigeria recorded approximately $23.22bn in capital importation in 2025, compared with $12.32bn in 2024, with foreign portfolio investment accounting for the bulk of the inflows.<\/p>\n

While acknowledging that portfolio investment could benefit financial markets, ISSJHR argued that rising capital inflows alone were insufficient evidence of expanded manufacturing capacity, increased employment or improved household welfare.<\/p>\n

It urged the Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Bureau of Statistics to provide clearer information on investment inflows and outflows, net capital movements and the sectors attracting foreign investment.<\/p>\n

On electricity, the group expressed concern that unreliable and expensive power supply continued to raise production costs, weaken businesses and constrain industrial development.<\/p>\n

It cited World Bank data indicating that approximately 62.5 per cent of Nigeria\u2019s population had access to electricity in 2024, while the NBS\u2019s 2024 residential energy survey estimated that 41.8 per cent of households were not connected to the national grid.<\/p>\n

ISSJHR called on the government to prioritise reliable electricity, agricultural security, affordable food, workers\u2019 welfare and stronger social protection programmes.<\/p>\n

The organisation also questioned the adequacy of the N70,000 national minimum wage established under the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024, arguing that its real value should be assessed against the cost of food, housing, transportation, healthcare and education.<\/p>\n

\u201cA wage may satisfy a legal requirement while remaining inadequate for a dignified standard of living,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

To establish the actual impact of the reforms, ISSJHR called on the Tinubu administration to commission an independent assessment involving researchers, labour organisations, manufacturers, farmers, market associations, civil society groups and community representatives.<\/p>\n

It said the assessment should examine household purchasing power, food affordability, employment, electricity access, industrial productivity, poverty reduction, government spending and the effectiveness of social intervention programmes.<\/p>\n

The group also urged state and local governments to demonstrate how public spending was translating into better roads, hospitals, schools, electricity and other essential services.<\/p>\n

Clarifying its position, ISSJHR said it was not opposed to the Tinubu administration or its economic policy direction but wanted the government to demonstrate measurable results.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur position is not that economic reforms should be abandoned merely because they are difficult. Our position is that reforms must be assessed honestly, corrected when necessary and judged by measurable outcomes rather than political rhetoric,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

The organisation maintained that the ultimate test of economic success should be whether Nigerians could afford food, secure productive employment, access reliable electricity and obtain essential services without falling deeper into poverty.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Renewed Hope Agenda must ultimately deliver renewed hope in the homes, farms, workplaces, markets and communities of the Nigerian people,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n

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