Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said policy reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu prevented at least 27 states from sliding into economic crisis.
Idris made the remarks on Saturday while delivering a lecture at the 34th convocation and 43rd founders’ day ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Minna. The lecture was titled ‘Youth and nation building: navigating opportunities in an era of national reforms’.
According to the minister, before Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, many states were struggling to meet basic obligations, including the payment of workers’ salaries.
“President Bola Tinubu traversed the length and breadth of this country during campaigns. He had plans to make Nigeria greater,” Idris said.
He explained that the reforms initiated by the president have significantly improved state finances. “Coming into power, he initiated reforms that have now saved those states from collapse. Now, states are getting three times what they used to get.
“They can now pay salaries, execute massive infrastructure projects, and deliver dividends of democracy to their people.
“These were made possible by Tinubu’s reforms and effective leadership strategy,” he added.
Idris noted that the president understood the importance of sustained reforms in correcting structural weaknesses and driving national development.
“There is no nation-building without reforms. It’s impossible for you to build a nation if you don’t continue to undertake these reforms,” the minister said.
He further stated that the measures helped shield the country from deeper economic challenges that could have emerged without such interventions.
The minister also pointed out that beyond stabilising the economy, Tinubu’s reforms are opening up new opportunities for Nigerian youths, particularly in the context of nation-building.
