Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Tope Fasua, has issued a robust defense of the Tinubu administration's policies, pushing back against what he describes as a sustained narrative war waged by desperate political opponents. In an article, Fasua argued that these narratives have damaged Nigeria's global image and must be countered with positive information about the country's progress.
Opposition Narratives and Their Impact
Fasua lamented that Nigeria has been reduced to a 'gbantueyo' (cheap/fake/disrespected) status by individuals singularly focused on grabbing power. He cited a friend's message from South Africa complaining about how South Africans denigrate Nigeria beyond Afrophobia. He urged progressives not to give in, stating, "For every motley crew of naysayers and attackers they assemble, we must equally file out and array against them, pushing out the positive information about our dear country."
He noted that many Nigerians abroad now wish to return or engage productively with their homeland, and the narrative that 'anywhere else is better than Nigeria' has collapsed. He added that even orchestrated security crises are being addressed through state policing, which opponents criticize despite its necessity.
Economic Reforms and Employment Data
Fasua emphasized that poverty does not define Nigeria, acknowledging millions of poor and hungry people as a legacy problem. He stated that the government seeks to interact directly with starving Nigerians to deploy rapid responses. He highlighted fiscal reforms that released funds to states and local governments, with some local governments receiving between N1 billion and N2 billion monthly. "This government is more concerned with that level of Nigerians who are less able to protect themselves and/or game the system," he said.
He presented data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on employment distribution across sectors, last updated in 2023, along with his own projections. For instance, he adjusted the number of workers in Retail Trade from 18.8 million to 25 million, citing Nigeria's 39 million MSMEs and population growth. He reduced Crop and Animal Production workers from 24.5 million to 20 million due to urbanization. He also increased Household and Domestic Personnel from 151,000 to 1 million, reflecting the many houseboys, gatemen, and drivers in estates.
New Employment Sectors and Overall Figures
Fasua identified new employment nodes not fully captured by NBS, including makeup artists, digital and remote workers, and keke/okada riders. He noted that a keke driver can earn N15,000 profit daily, totaling N300,000 per month untaxed. He also added categories for plumbers, electricians, crypto companies, pension managers, airlines, car manufacturers, real estate agents, and facility management workers. With these additions, he arrived at a total of 93,887,000 gainfully employed Nigerians.
He argued that with a population of 220 million, at least 40% are under 18 (80 million) and 15% are retirees (30 million), leaving a working population of 100-110 million. Thus, 93 million employed means unemployment is a problem but not Armageddon. "That is what Mr Onanuga meant in saying 'look, I am not seeing this debilitating crisis that some Nigerians say is unsurmountable'," Fasua said.
Tax Reforms and Informality
Fasua noted that tax reforms were accelerated to slow inequality, making the wealthy pay equitable taxes. He highlighted a huge informality problem, citing nearly $80 billion parked in cryptocurrencies by Nigerians, apart from unregistered businesses. He linked informality to insecurity and criticized powerful individuals inciting people against the ruling party.
He defended Bayo Onanuga's interview on Arise TV, where Onanuga said he pays salaries of many young Nigerians and does not see the 'everybody is falling dead out of hunger' narrative. Fasua urged Nigerians to avoid the 'manufactured outrage economy' and called on opposition to present clear strategies rather than vague emotional appeals.
First Lady's Philanthropy and Call for Evidence
Fasua defended First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu against attacks for her philanthropic work, including helping poor people start businesses like frying akara. "If she is dealing with thousands of poor people, is she not solving a problem by establishing them on a path that takes them out of the same hunger and poverty that these noisy folks are capitalising on?" he asked. He called for pictorial and documentary evidence to counter negative narratives.
He concluded by urging progressives to fight back with hard evidence, noting that President Tinubu will continue to reach out to the vulnerable through policies that mitigate suffering while keeping his eyes on a glorious future.
