The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has challenged opposition parties to present concrete policy alternatives to President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, arguing that criticism alone is insufficient to convince Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election.
Abbas made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, where he defended the administration’s policies and questioned the capacity of opposition parties to offer a different approach to governance.
According to the Speaker, the opposition risks making the forthcoming election a contest centred on public frustration rather than a serious discussion of economic policies, development priorities and practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
He argued that political parties seeking to replace the current administration should explain how they intend to finance education, sustain student loan programmes, protect the minimum wage and fund critical infrastructure, including roads, electricity and healthcare.
Abbas also questioned how opposition parties would sustain government revenue if they returned to policies that he claimed had previously weakened the country’s finances.
“Their clearest proposal is to remove President Tinubu. But what better programme do they offer?” the Speaker asked, insisting that a credible alternative government must be backed by clear plans, verifiable facts and realistic funding arrangements.
His comments come as political parties and their leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms expected to remain a major issue in the campaign.
However, Abbas acknowledged that Nigerians continue to face significant economic difficulties, particularly rising food prices, transportation costs, housing expenses and high borrowing costs for businesses.
He said the government recognised these concerns but maintained that economic indicators suggested improvements in some areas of the economy.
Citing figures presented in his address, Abbas said Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, while external reserves exceeded $54 billion in September. He also pointed to increased non-oil exports and higher revenues accruing to the federation and state governments.
The Speaker attributed some of the reported improvements to economic reforms introduced under Tinubu, referencing figures he said were reported by the World Bank.
He nevertheless acknowledged that improved economic indicators had yet to translate into sufficient relief for every Nigerian household.
According to Abbas, the administration’s next priority should be ensuring that economic stability leads to better public services, more employment opportunities and tangible improvements in living conditions.
He said a stronger revenue base would only be meaningful if Nigerians could feel its impact through improved infrastructure, accessible healthcare, quality education and greater economic opportunities.
The Speaker further argued that the 2027 election should be determined by competing policy proposals rather than public anger alone.
His remarks effectively placed the burden on opposition parties to explain how their proposed policies would address the country’s economic challenges while demonstrating how their programmes would be funded and implemented.
With economic hardship, the cost of living and the impact of government reforms likely to feature prominently in the election debate, the ability of both the ruling party and opposition parties to present credible, practical solutions is expected to remain a central issue in the run-up to 2027.
