Tinubu Fires Back: “Are Those Receiving Government Salaries Not Common Men and Women?”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended his administration’s economic reforms, arguing that the regular payment of salaries to workers at the local, state and federal levels has wider benefits for ordinary Nigerians.

Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday while receiving the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He was responding to arguments that government policies have failed to benefit the “common man.”

“WHO ARE THE COMMON MEN?”

The President questioned the distinction often made between government workers and the “common man,” asking whether employees receiving salaries at different levels of government are not themselves ordinary Nigerians.

He argued that when workers receive their salaries regularly, the impact extends beyond the individual employee to families, traders and businesses within their communities.
Tinubu specifically pointed to market women, saying the spending power of workers also affects people operating businesses around them, including their wives.

TINUBU DEFENDS SUBSIDY REMOVAL

The President also defended his administration’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, recalling that he had made his position on the policy clear even before assuming office.

According to Tinubu, the removal was necessary to prevent further distortion of the economy and allow government resources to be redirected towards infrastructure and other areas of national development.
He said the Federal Government would soon publish details showing how funds saved from the subsidy removal have been utilised.

“FINANCIAL REENGINEERING AND RESET”

Tinubu described the government’s economic programme as a process of “financial reengineering and reset,” acknowledging that economic restructuring is complex. He cited major road projects, including the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Kano and Sokoto-Badagry corridors, as examples of infrastructure investments being pursued under his administration.

The President said such projects were intended to support economic growth and improve the safety and welfare of Nigerians.

CNG BENEFITS SHOULD REACH COMMUTERS

During the meeting, Tinubu also urged petroleum transport operators to ensure that savings generated by the Federal Government’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative are reflected in transport fares.

He expressed concern that the financial benefits were reaching truck owners faster than commuters and appealed to drivers and operators to allow the savings to “trickle” down to passengers.

REFINERIES WILL RETURN, TINUBU SAYS

The President further assured petroleum workers that Nigeria’s refineries would return to productive operation.
However, he stressed that simply restarting the facilities would not be enough, saying their performance must ultimately be measured by productivity, profitability and the value they deliver to the Nigerian economy.
Tinubu’s comments come amid continuing debate over the impact of his economic reforms, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy and its consequences for household incomes and the cost of living.

While the President maintains that the reforms are laying the foundation for sustainable growth, critics continue to question how quickly ordinary Nigerians will feel the benefits.
The latest remarks therefore add to the ongoing national debate over whether Nigeria’s economic reforms are delivering sufficient relief to citizens while creating the conditions for longer-term economic development. OGM NewsNG will continue to update you on any development.