Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over a fragile economy when he assumed office in 2023.
Akpabio made the remark on Friday in Abuja during the inauguration of the convention sub-committee on programmes and events of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His comments were contained in a statement issued by Mr. Jackson Udom, his special assistant on media.
The senate president, who previously served as a minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari, said the National Assembly of Nigeria would continue to back the reform programmes of the current administration.
“The National Assembly will continue to support the agenda of the President Tinubu-led government in his efforts towards taking the country out of the woods,” he said.
Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, said the economic conditions inherited by the administration were precarious.
“President Tinubu met what can be described as a foamy economy.”
According to him, the government has since introduced key economic measures aimed at stabilising the country’s finances.
“He had to put on his thinking cap by harmonising the exchange rate and the removal of the fuel subsidy, which was a drainpipe on the economy,” he said.
He added that tax reforms introduced by the administration have helped boost government revenue from non-oil sources.
“He has also put in place the tax reforms, which has increased national revenue from the non-oil sector through the National Revenue Service,” he said.
Akpabio also said the reforms have translated into improved allocations to sub-national governments.
He further argued that the recent wave of opposition politicians joining the APC signals growing confidence in the administration’s policies.
“The recent defection into the ruling APC is simply a show of gratitude based on what the administration has achieved since 2023,” he added.
In May 2022, Akpabio had described Buhari in glowing terms, saying, “Buhari is the best president Nigeria could ever have at a time of difficult circumstances.”
