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Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said Nigerians who have borne the costs of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms must now receive tangible benefits through better public services, jobs and improved living conditions.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 2027 Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, Abbas said abandoning the reforms before their expected benefits materialised could undermine progress already recorded.
He acknowledged the pressure the adjustment measures had placed on households and businesses, but said the next phase must turn increased government revenue into improvements citizens could experience.
“The first term confronted instability. The first term expanded public revenue. The second term must turn revenue into public value. Nigeria has paid the price of reform. Nigeria must now receive the dividend of consolidation,” he said.
The Speaker said continuity should be accompanied by a stronger focus on delivering relief to households, expanding employment and improving essential services.
He cited figures he attributed to recent World Bank reports, including economic growth of 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026 and external reserves exceeding $54 billion in September.
He also cited a $12 billion current account surplus and non-oil exports exceeding $6 billion in 2025.
He said federal revenue increased by 69 per cent in real terms between 2023 and 2025, while state revenues rose by 93 per cent.
He said the improvements in Nigeria’s fiscal and external position would ultimately be judged by their effect on people’s lives.
He challenged opposition parties to offer credible alternatives and urged government supporters to defend the administration through accurate information.
“An ambassador does not invent evidence. When opponents raise their voices, we must raise the quality of our arguments,” he said.
The Speaker also outlined the legislative contributions of the 10th House, citing measures on student loans, the national minimum wage, tax reform and what he described as the Electoral Act 2026.
He said the House of Representatives had received 2,747 bills and passed 363, with more than 70 receiving presidential assent.
He also highlighted legislative efforts towards establishing state police.
He said lawmakers had a responsibility to provide the legal framework for reform while holding the government accountable for its results.
He added that the 2027 election would allow Nigerians to assess the administration’s performance and decide whether its policies warranted another mandate.
Also speaking, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged Tinubu to maintain his relationships with political allies as preparations for the election gathered pace.
He said cooperation among political leaders and members of the National Assembly was necessary to advance the President’s message of unity and transformation.
He also proposed that the minority caucus be considered for inclusion in the initiative as a means of widening political engagement.
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