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Tinubu vows not to betray Nigerians, says economic reforms will secure brighter future

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Tinubu vows not to betray Nigerians, says economic reforms will secure brighter future
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu vows not to betray Nigerians, says economic reforms will secure brighter future

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to delivering on the promises of his administration, declaring that he will never betray the trust reposed in him by Nigerians while insisting that the ongoing economic reforms are laying the foundation for a stronger economy and a brighter future for generations to come.

The President made the declaration on Thursday in a message delivered on his behalf by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during the inauguration of the executives of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, a grassroots mobilisation platform established to promote the Renewed Hope Agenda across Nigeria.

Addressing political leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, youth groups and supporters at the event, Tinubu said his administration remains focused on building a stronger and more prosperous nation despite the difficult decisions it has taken since assuming office.

“I am delighted to be here to see what Nigerians are doing from their hearts for the development of the nation. I can see people interested in the future of the country,” the President said.

He added: “I am determined never to betray the trust by Nigerians and the vision of ensuring a better Nigeria.”

Tinubu called on members of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement to intensify grassroots engagement by taking the message of his administration directly to Nigerians, stressing that democracy flourishes through sustained interaction between leaders and citizens.

According to him, meaningful political victories begin with conversations at the community level rather than at the ballot box alone.

“Every great nation is driven by one citizen at a time, and one door at a time. Before victories at the ballot boxes, there are confrontations at every door,” he said.

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The President urged supporters to educate Nigerians about government programmes and policies, saying the benefits of good governance become more meaningful when citizens understand the purpose behind them.

“Go to these doors and tell them about the dividends of good governance after they vote. That is how democracy endures,” he said.

Tinubu acknowledged that many Nigerians have made sacrifices as a result of the administration’s economic reforms, but maintained that the measures were introduced to address long-standing structural challenges and create lasting prosperity.

“The purpose of reforms is not to make life difficult for citizens but to lay the foundation that future generations can build on. Lasting progress is rarely achieved without enduring sacrifice,” he stated.

The President said countries achieve sustainable development by confronting difficult challenges with courage and patriotism rather than avoiding necessary reforms.

He also stressed the importance of collaboration among the executive, legislature and citizens, describing collective responsibility as essential to effective governance and national development.

“Good governance succeeds when the executive, legislature and the citizens agree to work together,” he said.

Calling for national unity, Tinubu urged Nigerians not to allow political differences to weaken the country’s shared aspirations.

“Politics should never divide us as Nigerians. Our nation is greater than any political party, office holder or elections,” he declared.

He encouraged members of the movement to spread hope, respect and confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“Knock on every door with respect, while strengthening faith in our democracy and the future of Nigeria. Let every door lead to a renewed hope for greater Nigeria and a more prosperous nation,” the President said.

Tinubu also commended High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and members of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement for launching the grassroots mobilisation initiative.

“I commend High Chief Government Ekpemupolo and his team for putting this together. We are united whenever the nation calls,” he said.

Highlighting the achievements of his administration, Tinubu maintained that reforms introduced over the past three years were already positioning Nigeria for sustained economic growth and national development.

“In three years we have embarked on various reforms to grow our economy and make life brighter for Nigerians. The future is indeed brighter for Nigerians,” he added.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Kestin Pondi, who represented the Grand Patron of the movement, Tompolo, described the inauguration as the beginning of a nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign in support of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Pondi thanked the thousands of Nigerians who attended the event, including political leaders, traditional rulers, members of the diplomatic community, youth and women groups, civil society organisations and media representatives, saying their presence reflected a shared commitment to promoting national unity, good governance and sustainable development.

He described Tinubu as a courageous leader whose reform agenda demonstrated determination to transform the country.

“President Tinubu is a man of immense courage as can be seen in the breadth of his reform programmes. To every Nigerian who believes in the vision of a prosperous, united and progressive country, he is the man of the moment,” Pondi said.

He acknowledged that the country’s journey towards sustainable development may not be easy but expressed confidence that Nigeria was moving in the right direction.

“The inauguration is only the beginning. Together we shall continue to mobilise support, strengthen grassroots engagement and promote constructive citizen participation in nation building. The road ahead would be bumpy but a safe arrival is assured,” he said.

Pondi urged members of the movement to remain peaceful, disciplined and committed to promoting national unity while supporting initiatives aimed at advancing Nigeria’s growth and development.

“As we move forward, I urge every member and supporter of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement to remain committed, peaceful, disciplined and focused on our collective objectives. Let us work together to deepen national unity and contribute positively to the growth and development of our dear nation,” he said.

Tinubu vows not to betray Nigerians, says economic reforms will secure brighter future

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Lagos Pensioners Draw Battle Line with Government Over Pension Enhancement

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August 24, 2026

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Lagos Pensioners Draw Battle Line with Government Over Pension Enhancement

Lagos Pensioners Draw Battle Line with Government Over Pension Enhancement

Retirees demand payment of pension increase and wage award as LASPEC cites ongoing actuarial assessment

A major confrontation is looming between the Lagos State Government and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), as pensioners have issued Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu an August 31 ultimatum to pay their long-awaited pension enhancement and wage award, or face what they described as the “mother of all protests” [citation:1].

The ultimatum was announced by the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme (NUPCPS), Lagos State Council, Comrade Michael Omisande, after a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Sunkanmi Oyegbola, which was also attended by the Director-General of the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Babalola Obilana, and the Commission’s Executive Director, Finance, Muyiwa Oshin [citation:1].

According to Omisande, the union had in January 2026 submitted a template to the Lagos State Government for the implementation of the pension enhancement[citation:1]. Although LASPEC informed the union that approval had been granted to engage an actuary, he said no further action had been taken. “We have communicated a 19-day ultimatum to Mr. Governor to credit the accounts of pensioners on the pension increases/wage award, or face protest action tentatively fixed for August 31, 2026,” he stated [citation:1].

During the meeting, Obilana informed the pensioners that Governor Sanwo-Olu had summoned him and issued a directive on the matter but did not indicate when the payment would be implemented [citation:1]. Also present were leaders of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Defined Benefit Scheme (NUPDBS), Olufemi Olarewaju and Olukayode Bada, while the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Funmi Sessi, urged LASPEC to expedite action to avert an industrial confrontation [citation:1].

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Omisande disclosed that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police had been notified of the planned protest to ensure adequate security for participants [citation:1]. The union had earlier written a formal letter to the Police Commissioner on August 18, 2026, requesting protection over a planned warning protest scheduled for Monday, August 24, 2026, which would hold simultaneously at strategic locations across all 20 Local Governments in Lagos State [citation:1].

The warning protest is scheduled to hold at strategic locations across all 20 Local Governments in Lagos State, including Lagos Island, Ikorodu, Ojo, Apapa, Agege, Oshodi, Somolu, Ikeja, Surulere, Mushin, Badagry, Epe, and others [citation:1]. The letter stated that “Senior Citizens are clamoring for the payment of 16years Pension Arrears” [citation:1]. The union directed the state government to ensure that the relevant pension accounts were credited through the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) by August 19, warning that failure to meet the deadline would result in a mass demonstration involving over 50,000 CPS pensioners [citation:1].

Reacting to the development, the Lagos State Government said it had not received funds from the Federal Government for the pension increase and was funding the additional liability for eligible state pensioners from its own resources [citation:1]. The government dismissed the claim that federal funds meant for pensioners were being held by the state in a bank to generate interest [citation:1]. According to the government, Lagos had already implemented the approved increase for eligible pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS)[citation:1]. For pensioners under the CPS, however, the process was still ongoing because the government was determining its full financial liability under the scheme. “Given the structure of the CPS and the need to determine the state’s full financial exposure accurately, an independent actuary has been engaged to assess the liability and provide the appropriate basis for implementation,” the government said [citation:1].

The government rejected the suggestion that it was deliberately delaying or withholding the benefit, assuring pensioners that “there is no deliberate delay or withholding of funds” and that the process was being undertaken to ensure accurate, transparent and sustainable implementation [citation:1]. The government appreciated the concerns of pensioners and urged them to be patient while the process was completed [citation:1].

Lagos Pensioners Draw Battle Line with Government Over Pension Enhancement

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Tinubu Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries, Orders Arrest Over Fake Agency in SGF Office

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August 22, 2026

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Tinubu Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries, Orders Arrest Over Fake Agency in SGF Office
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries, Orders Arrest Over Fake Agency in SGF Office

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) uncovered the “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office,” which allegedly operated without presidential approval within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The President has ordered the immediate arrest of the agency’s promoter and the suspension of three top civil servants.

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries and directed the arrest of the promoter of a newly uncovered fake government agency operating within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). The discovery was announced on Friday by the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, during a briefing with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The illegal entity, identified as the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, was found to have been allocated office space within the OSGF complex without presidential authorisation and in violation of existing regulations. The ICPC chairman explained that the discovery was made during the commission’s broader investigation into the earlier uncovered fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and other procedural weaknesses in the public service.

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According to Aliyu, the fake agency was promoted by Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, who was found to have allegedly operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, and George Nwabueze. The investigation also uncovered the alleged involvement of suspected collaborators within the OSGF who may have facilitated the agency’s operations.

Following the ICPC’s briefing, President Tinubu directed the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries: M.S. Danjuma, Engineer Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah. The ICPC has engaged with officials of the OSGF to gather vital information regarding the unauthorised office, and the investigation remains active.

The latest discovery comes barely weeks after the exposure of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), whose self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is currently facing prosecution over allegations of forgery and impersonation. An interim ICPC report submitted to President Tinubu on August 6 had also identified two other fictitious bodies: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership. With Friday’s announcement, the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office becomes the fourth fake agency uncovered by the anti-corruption commission in connection with the scandal since early April.

The ICPC chairman commended President Tinubu for directing a forensic audit of government processes and a wider policy audit of federal ministries, departments, and agencies, describing the move as a proactive step towards strengthening governance and closing loopholes that could facilitate abuse within the public service. The investigation is expected to focus not only on the individuals behind the purported agency but also on the institutional weaknesses that allowed an unauthorised entity to gain access to federal government premises.

Tinubu Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries, Orders Arrest Over Fake Agency in SGF Office

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N3.14 Trillion Spent on Electricity Subsidy in 31 Months – FG

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August 22, 2026

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N3.14 Trillion Spent on Electricity Subsidy in 31 Months – FG

N3.14 Trillion Spent on Electricity Subsidy in 31 Months – FG

The Federal Government says the massive spending shielded consumers from the full impact of tariff hikes, but critics question the value amid persistent blackouts and plans to phase out subsidies by 2027.

The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has disclosed that it spent N3.14 trillion on electricity subsidies between June 2023 and December 2025, according to figures contained in its latest economic reform scorecard. The government said the intervention was designed to protect electricity consumers from the full effect of tariff increases as reforms in the power sector continued.

The electricity subsidy was among N30.64 trillion in additional spending pressures incurred by the Federal Government during the 31-month period. The figures were released by the Ministry of Finance following a presentation by Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

According to the ministry, electricity subsidy payments rose sharply from N177 billion in 2023 to N1.48 trillion in 2024, representing an increase of more than 740 per cent. By December 2025, the subsidy bill stood at N1.47 trillion, indicating a marginal 1.14 per cent decline compared with the previous year.

Other major spending pressures recorded during the period included N9.39 trillion for wage adjustments and minimum-wage increases, N9.37 trillion arising from the impact of exchange-rate movements on external debt servicing, and N6.47 trillion for strategic infrastructure projects.

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The government said it mobilised N20.4 trillion in additional resources to partly finance the increased expenditure. The funds comprised N5.43 trillion from the Federal Government’s share of estimated petrol subsidy savings, N3.12 trillion in additional revenues, and N11.85 trillion raised through incremental borrowing. Despite these resources, the government said there was still a funding shortfall of N10.24 trillion, which had to be accommodated within the existing revenue base.

Despite the substantial subsidy spending, electricity supply deteriorated during the same period. According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Federal Government incurred an electricity tariff subsidy of N358.32 billion in the first quarter of 2026 alone. The subsidy bill averaged more than N119 billion per month as the government maintained its freeze on end-user electricity tariffs at July 2024 rates.

NERC explained that because electricity tariffs remain below cost-reflective levels, the government continues to subsidise the difference between the actual cost of power generation and the approved tariffs charged to consumers. Under the current Distribution Companies’ Remittance Obligation (DRO) framework, electricity generation companies invoiced the 11 DisCos a total of N689.72 billion during the quarter. However, only N331.40 billion was billed to the DisCos, leaving the government to cover the remaining N358.32 billion. The subsidy accounted for 51.95 per cent of the total generation invoice during the period.

The commission clarified that the lower subsidy payment in Q1 2026 did not result from the introduction of cost-reflective tariffs but rather from a decline in electricity purchased by the distribution companies during the quarter. According to the report, average available generation capacity fell by 17.45 per cent, dropping from 5,400.38MW in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 4,457.96MW in the first quarter of 2026. Total electricity generation also declined by 9.64 per cent to 8,883.47GWh.

The subsidy disclosure has drawn criticism from organised private sector groups. The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) questioned the impact of the N15.8 trillion in petrol subsidy savings and criticised the N3.14 trillion electricity subsidy, saying it appeared to contradict the logic behind electricity tariff reforms and highlighted the high power costs that continue to burden businesses.

NERC has warned that the current subsidy regime leaves the Federal Government exposed to uncertain and potentially rising financial obligations. “The open-ended nature of the subsidy exposes the FGN to indeterminate subsidy obligations due to volumetric risk and changes in generation costs arising from changes in the generation mix, particularly with an increase in thermal generation,” the commission stated.

The disclosure comes against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s plan to gradually withdraw electricity subsidies from 2027. In July, Joseph Tegbe, Minister of Power, said the government had no immediate plan to increase electricity tariffs, explaining that subsidy payments would be gradually phased out from next year while ensuring that Nigerians continued to benefit from existing arrangements. “I promise you, next year, by God’s grace, we will put a stop to this so-called subsidy in the power sector,” Tegbe said.

The government has also proposed establishing a Power Consumer Assistance Fund (PCAF) , established under the Electricity Act 2023, as the preferred mechanism for delivering targeted subsidies directly to vulnerable electricity users. The initiative is designed to channel financial support through consumers’ electricity accounts or other verified identity-linked platforms, improving transparency in subsidy administration while boosting investor confidence in the sector.

However, analysts note that ending the subsidy without imposing another sharp tariff increase will require widespread metering, lower transmission and distribution losses, improved collections, reliable supply, and targeted protection for poorer households. The government is also working to clear debts owed to power generation companies, with GenCos reportedly owed about N6.5 trillion and receiving only about 35 per cent of their monthly invoices.

In April 2024, NERC raised electricity tariffs for Band A customers from N66 to N225 per kilowatt-hour. The affected consumers were expected to receive at least 20 hours of electricity daily, while the adjustment was projected to reduce the government’s subsidy burden by about N1.14 trillion in 2024. Despite this adjustment, the subsidy bill for 2024 and 2025 combined still reached nearly N3 trillion.

N3.14 Trillion Spent on Electricity Subsidy in 31 Months – FG

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