The African Democratic Congress (ADC) spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, has questioned whether the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has the appropriate academic background to assess Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Abdullahi made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the Federal Government’s 30-day initiative to reduce fuel prices.
According to the ADC spokesperson, economic policies, particularly those involving fuel subsidies, require a clear ideological foundation and the expertise of professionals trained to analyse the economy.
Although he questioned Oyedele’s educational background, Abdullahi stressed that his comments were not intended as a personal attack on the minister.
Speaking during the programme, Abdullahi argued that subsidy policies cannot be assessed solely as technical or accounting matters because they also involve broader economic philosophies and policy choices.
He said, “I’m not saying he’s incompetent, but I think he doesn’t have the right education.”
The ADC spokesperson added that the debate over subsidies required an understanding of the Nigerian economy and the different schools of thought that influence economic decision-making.
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He maintained that the training of an accountant differs from that of an economist, noting that even economists may approach national economic challenges differently depending on their specialisation.
‘We Need People Trained To Do The Job’
Abdullahi further clarified that he held Oyedele in high regard and considered him an intelligent person, despite his reservations about the minister’s academic background.
“No, I’m not going personal. Like I said, I have utmost respect for him. And I think he’s quite a smart guy. I’m not taking that away from him,” he said.
He, however, insisted that the management of Nigeria’s economy required people with specialised training suited to the task.
According to Abdullahi, a classical economist and a development economist may approach the same economic problem from different perspectives, making the expertise and orientation of policymakers important in determining policy outcomes.
“We need people who are trained to do this job to do it,” he added.
