Hardship: ACF Gives Tinubu Three Months to Deliver Relief, Demands Clear Timelines

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to introduce measures to ease the economic hardship facing Nigerians within three months, while demanding clear timelines and measurable targets for improving living conditions.

The forum said the Federal Government should move beyond repeated assurances that economic conditions would improve and provide specific commitments showing when Nigerians could begin to experience meaningful relief.

The ACF’s Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Mohammed-Baba, made the call during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, October 8, 2026, according to media reports.

Mohammed-Baba said the administration needed to be more transparent about the effects of its economic reforms and acknowledge areas where the outcomes had fallen short of expectations.

He argued that government policies should be assessed not only by their stated objectives but also by their effects on households, businesses and the wider population.

The ACF spokesman cited the rising cost of living, declining purchasing power, increasing rents, higher transportation expenses and electricity bills as some of the pressures confronting Nigerians. He also identified poor road infrastructure and persistent insecurity as challenges affecting citizens’ welfare.

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According to him, the government should explain how it intends to address these problems and establish clear benchmarks against which its performance can be measured.

Mohammed-Baba called on the Tinubu administration to outline what it expects to achieve within one, two and three years, arguing that measurable targets would enable Nigerians to assess progress rather than rely solely on official assurances.

He also urged the government to acknowledge the difficulties associated with its economic policies and communicate more openly with citizens about the challenges and expected outcomes.

The ACF spokesman maintained that the government should not expect Nigerians to endure prolonged hardship without a clear indication of when relief measures would take effect.

He said three months should be enough for the administration to introduce measures capable of reducing some of the immediate pressures on households, even if broader economic recovery would require more time.

The forum also called for greater accountability from political leaders, arguing that the sacrifices demanded of citizens should be matched by a commitment from public officials to responsible governance and improved service delivery.

Mohammed-Baba’s comments add to the ongoing debate over the impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, particularly the pressure that higher living costs have placed on households and small businesses.

The government has defended its reforms as necessary to address longstanding economic challenges. However, the ACF’s position underscores the need for clear communication about the expected benefits of the policies and practical measures to cushion their immediate effects.

On the 2027 general elections, Mohammed-Baba said the ACF would assess political parties and candidates based on their commitment to good governance, accountability, anti-corruption, equity and fairness.

He said the forum’s position would be guided by the quality of leadership and the ability of political actors to promote responsible governance rather than automatic support for any particular political party.

The ACF’s central demand is for the Federal Government to establish clear deadlines, measurable objectives and practical steps for reducing hardship, enabling Nigerians to judge progress by tangible improvements in their daily lives.