First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Thursday said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms must be consolidated beyond their current phase to secure the gains for present and future generations, as she welcomed the endorsement of the President for a second term by former presiding officers of state legislatures.
She said the President had worked tirelessly since assuming office to reposition the economy and lay a sustainable foundation for national development, stressing that nation-building is a continuous process that requires consolidating gains already recorded.
The First Lady spoke at the National Summit of the Forum of All Progressives Congress Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly of Nigeria (APC-FOPSHAN), held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.
Her position was reinforced by former Plateau State Governor and former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Senator Simon Lalong, who said Nigerians should return Tinubu in 2027 to enable him to complete the reform programme, particularly the economic restructuring triggered by petrol subsidy removal.
Mrs Tinubu, the summit’s Special Guest of Honour, said former Speakers and Deputy Speakers were well placed to appreciate the difficult choices of governance and the courage required to pursue reforms in the national interest.
‘Since the inception of this administration, Mr. President has worked tirelessly to reposition our economy and lay a solid foundation for sustainable national development.
‘Nation-building is a continuous process, and the gains already recorded must be consolidated for the benefit of present and future generations’, she said.
The First Lady particularly acknowledged the forum’s endorsement of President Tinubu for another term, describing the support as significant because of its members’ governance and legislative experience.
‘I especially acknowledge and appreciate your endorsement of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for a second term in office. Coming from men and women who have themselves presided over legislative institutions, your endorsement carries special significance.
‘You understand the demands of governance, the difficulty of making critical decisions, and the courage required to pursue reforms in the national interest.
‘On behalf of Mr. President, I thank you for this expression of confidence, support and goodwill’, she said.
Mrs Tinubu also urged former legislative leaders to remain active in public service, saying their departure from political office should not mark the end of their contribution to governance and national development.
According to her, their years as Speakers and Deputy Speakers had equipped them with institutional knowledge, political experience, and networks that could still be deployed to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
‘Leaving political office should never mean leaving public service. Nigeria still needs your wisdom, experience, and networks’, the First Lady said.
She urged the former lawmakers to use the forum to ‘preserve institutional memory, mentor younger legislators, promote democratic stability’ and contribute to the development of the communities where they served.
Mrs Tinubu described the summit as a celebration of service, leadership, experience and sacrifice, noting that former presiding officers had occupied critical positions in democratic institutions and contributed significantly to legislation, governance and development in their respective states.
She also accepted her designation as Grand Patron of the forum, saying she was humbled by the honour and would seek to advance its ideals.
‘I am particularly humbled by the honour extended to me to act as the Grand Patron of this forum. I pray to the Almighty God to give me the wisdom to serve the ideals of the forum. I say thank you’, she said.
The First Lady commended the National Chairman of the forum, Senator Wasiu Sanni-Eshilokun, its Board of Trustees and leadership for organising the summit and bringing members from across the country together.
She said their presence demonstrated a continued commitment to national service, and expressed hope that the gathering would deepen unity among former legislative leaders and strengthen democratic development.
Meanwhile, Lalong, who was Guest Speaker at the summit themed ‘Bold Leadership, Bold Reforms: From Subsidy to Renewed Hope,’ said the President had chosen the difficult path of confronting structural economic problems rather than pursuing politically convenient options.
He said the removal of the petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023, was one of the administration’s most consequential decisions, arguing that successive governments had struggled to confront the problem despite its impact on public finances.
‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has exemplified those bold steps and come 2027, Nigerians will reward him to complete the great work’, Lalong said.
According to him, the subsidy regime had allowed the country to devote enormous resources to consumption rather than investment in productive sectors.
‘For decades, Nigeria consumed what we did not produce. We succeeded in making our future children pay for cheap petrol.
‘Everyone knew the truth but no leader had the courage to confront it’, he said.
Lalong acknowledged the difficulty of the subsidy decision but argued that leadership sometimes demands choices that impose immediate costs in pursuit of longer-term objectives.
‘It was not an easy decision. It was not politically convenient. But sometimes, leadership is tested not by the decisions that are easy to make, but by the courage to make decisions that the moment demands’, he said.
He said the bigger challenge was ensuring that resources freed by the reforms were redirected to productive investments that create jobs and improve living standards.
‘The real significance of subsidy removal therefore is not simply that one subsidy disappeared. It is that Nigeria has been compelled to confront a fundamental question: how do we move from consuming public resources to investing these resources in productive capacity for our nation?’ he said.
Lalong identified agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, education, energy and technology as sectors requiring increased investment to make the reforms meaningful to Nigerians.
‘We must invest in agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, education, energy, and technology’, he said.
He also called on political leaders to help explain the rationale behind the reforms to Nigerians, saying the responsibility for sustaining the programme went beyond the Presidency.
‘Our duty today goes beyond assessment. Our duty is to be ambassadors of this difficult but necessary reform.
‘President Tinubu has done his part by taking the bold decision. Our part is to help our people understand that the pains of today are the gains of tomorrow’, he said.
Lalong also stressed the legislature’s role in scrutinising expenditure, strengthening oversight, and ensuring fiscal responsibility as the reforms progress.
‘The journey from subsidy to Renewed Hope is a journey from dependency to productivity, from consumption to investment, and from short-term fix to long-term economic transformation.
‘It is a journey that requires courage from the executive, responsibility from the legislatures, discipline across government and patience from the people.
‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated the courage to begin this difficult journey. Our responsibility is to ensure that reforms succeed, that their gains are consolidated, and that Nigerians emerge stronger, more productive, more prosperous’, he said.