President Bola Tinubu has urged state governors to ensure that Nigerians feel the direct benefits of his administration’s economic reforms.
Tinubu gave the charge during a meeting with the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, in Lagos on Sunday.
Uzodinma, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said he visited the President to update him on developments in the country during his working trip to Europe.
He described his discussion with Tinubu as a “very quality conversation,” saying the meeting focused on recent developments and efforts by the governors to communicate the achievements and policies of the administration to Nigerians.
Tinubu’s Reform Campaign to Begin
According to Uzodinma, the meeting also focused on a campaign to highlight the achievements and reforms of the Tinubu administration.
He said the campaign would commence almost immediately following the President’s return.
The Imo governor said the Progressive Governors Forum had already taken direction from Tinubu’s recent broadcast and was working to move the reform agenda beyond implementation to ensuring that ordinary Nigerians benefit from it.
“We have already taken cue from that broadcast, and that is exactly what we are doing,” Uzodinma said.
“The reform policy has moved from implementation to ensuring that the people of Nigeria get the dividends of the reform policy itself,” he added.
Governors Asked to Deliver Benefits of Reforms
Uzodinma said state governments must play an active role in ensuring that the benefits of the Federal Government’s policies reach Nigerians.
He stressed that governors would not merely praise the reforms but would work to ensure that their impact is felt by citizens.
The governor particularly highlighted the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses as an area where Nigerians should see tangible benefits from the government’s reforms.
According to him, reduced operating costs for transport operators should translate into lower fares for commuters.
“The transporters and commuters should also be responsible in ensuring that since the cost of transportation has been reduced by the introduction of CNG, that they should now also reduce the fare they charge passengers,” he said.
Uzodinma argued that such an approach would create a “win-win situation” for transport operators and passengers.
Uzodinma Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
The Progressive Governors Forum chairman also pointed to the financial position of Imo State as an example of what he described as the positive impact of Tinubu’s economic policies on state governments.
Uzodinma recalled that when he assumed office as governor in 2021, the state faced difficulties meeting its financial obligations after paying workers’ salaries.
He said the situation had changed significantly, with Imo State now able to pay salaries while also funding development projects.
“In 2021, I became the Governor without President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his reform policies. It was difficult at the end of every month after paying salaries,” Uzodinma said.
“Today, we pay salaries as we do and we have money to do all the achievements that we have recorded in the state,” he added.
The governor said similar developments were taking place across several states, with governors implementing projects in different sectors.
Governors to Focus on Impact, Not Praise
Uzodinma said the responsibility of governors was no longer limited to supporting or defending the Federal Government’s reforms.
Instead, he said they must ensure that Nigerians experience tangible improvements resulting from the policies.
“So we are not going to only sit here and sing the songs of reform. We are going to make sure that the benefits,” he said.
The meeting comes as the Tinubu administration continues to defend its economic reform agenda, including policies aimed at reducing transportation costs and improving the financial capacity of governments.
Uzodinma said the governors appreciated Tinubu for the reforms but recognised that they now had a responsibility to ensure that the people ultimately feel their impact.
The development signals a renewed focus by the Progressive Governors Forum on communicating the administration’s policies while also ensuring that the benefits of the reforms translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.