Numbers don’t feed people, Sowore slams FG’s economic reform metrics
August 11, 2026 11:03 am
Human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore
Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the Federal Government’s economic reforms, arguing that rising revenue and other macroeconomic indicators have yet to translate into improved living conditions for Nigerians.
Sowore, who spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, said the success of the administration’s economic policies should be measured by their impact on Nigerians’ standard of living, businesses, employment, education, security and wages.
He faulted the government for relying on increased revenue, tax collection and the tax-to-GDP ratio as evidence of economic progress.
According to him, Nigerians are more concerned about their ability to afford basic necessities and whether the reforms are creating jobs, supporting businesses and improving public services.
“They are bringing out numbers as if we are foolish people. They want to do a mental adjustment on the psyche of the people. They say you are feeling better because our GDP-to-tax ratio is higher.
“We are talking about GDP to tax, but what about GDP to standard of living? Nobody is talking about that. That’s why I said it is a repetition of the same old explanation of their economic failures,” he said.
Sowore said the government should demonstrate the benefits of its reforms through tangible improvements, including new industries, jobs, schools, roads and other infrastructure.
“What we are asking them to produce are the wealthier people in society, the schools that have been built, the roads that you have constructed after you remove subsidy, and how your people are faring, how your businesses are faring,” he said.
The AAC candidate claimed that despite increased government revenue, Nigerians were facing rising costs of living and declining purchasing power, while businesses were struggling to survive.
“Businesses are pretty much gone. You have closed down industries. Your people are poor. We are not just talking about poor people. We are talking about people who are multidimensionally poor,” he said.
Sowore also criticised the removal of fuel subsidy, arguing that the policy had increased the economic burden on ordinary Nigerians.
He said subsidy was not inherently a bad economic policy, noting that governments across the world use subsidies to protect vulnerable citizens and support strategic sectors.
“There is no country in the world that doesn’t subsidise their poor. In fact, the people that get the most subsidy in Nigeria are not the poor. It’s the rich,” he said.
The activist further alleged that wealthy individuals and businesses benefited from government waivers and other incentives, while ordinary Nigerians bore the immediate impact of subsidy removal.
“All the people who bring in foreign goods and services, go and look at their waivers, their customs. You know who is getting a real subsidy compared to the people who are getting from each gallon of petrol that was taken away from them,” he said.
Sowore argued that subsidy removal, alongside other economic policies, had contributed to the depreciation of the naira and worsening living conditions.
“The moment you remove the subsidy, look at where your economy tanked. Your naira also went down the toilet,” he said.
He called for a fundamental change in the country’s approach to economic management, urging the government to implement policies that would create opportunities for the majority rather than concentrate wealth and benefits among a privileged few.
Sowore also called for measures to make the minimum wage meaningful, strengthen businesses and improve access to education, healthcare, security and other essential services.
He said economic reforms should ultimately be reflected in the lives and pockets of ordinary Nigerians.
“Optics don’t feed people. Propaganda can’t feed people. People are dying in this country of hunger and starvation. People can’t afford to live,” he said.
The AAC presidential candidate maintained that the government could not claim economic success while millions of Nigerians continued to struggle to meet their basic needs.
“We must stop deceiving ourselves. We need fresh ideas and fresh people who can make this country work,” he said.
Sowore further called for greater accountability in the implementation of economic reforms, insisting that the Federal Government must show how increased revenue is being converted into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
Hannah Johnson is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over three years of professional experience in reporting, storytelling, and digital content creation. She blends traditional reporting skills with a modern, digital-first approach to journalism, producing content tailored for both web and social platforms. Hannah is skilled at turning complex topics into clear, engaging, and relatable stories that resonate with a wide audience. Her work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a strong commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism.
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