Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s administration amid concerns over Nigeria’s economic hardship and declining public confidence in democratic governance, blaming inadequate communication for the negative perception of government performance.
Barau made the remarks on Tuesday in Yola, Adamawa State, while responding to a lecture delivered by former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at an event marking the 59th birthday of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
Osinbajo, in his presentation titled “Democracy and Development: Rethinking the Leadership Question,” highlighted growing dissatisfaction with democratic institutions across Africa, citing economic hardship, rising living costs, unemployment and declining confidence in government.
Drawing on Afrobarometer survey findings, the former Vice-President noted that although 64 per cent of Africans preferred democracy to other forms of government, only 38 per cent were satisfied with how democracy was functioning in their countries.
Responding to the concerns, Barau described Osinbajo’s presentation as thought-provoking but argued that governments were making efforts to tackle the challenges, particularly in education, infrastructure and economic development.
He maintained that the disconnect between government actions and public perception was partly caused by the failure of leaders to communicate policies and ongoing projects effectively to citizens.
According to Barau, improved engagement between the government and the people would help Nigerians better understand the policies being implemented and the progress being made.
On education, the senator highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), introduced under Tinubu’s administration, as an intervention designed to expand access to higher education, particularly for students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
He also cited major road projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry-Sokoto Highway, alongside other infrastructure projects across the country, as evidence of efforts to stimulate economic growth.
Addressing the rising cost of living, Barau argued that Nigeria’s economic difficulties should also be viewed against the backdrop of international developments, including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in the Middle East.
He said disruptions to global supply chains and fluctuations in energy prices had increased the cost of goods and services worldwide, adding that Nigeria was not immune to such pressures.
The Deputy President of the Senate acknowledged that addressing the country’s challenges would take time but insisted that ongoing interventions needed to be communicated more effectively.
He urged political leaders and public officials to strengthen public engagement, stressing that transparent communication was essential to bridging the gap between citizens’ expectations and their assessment of government performance.
