Legal practitioner and national development advocate, Jide Ologun, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to redirect the savings from the removal of fuel subsidy away from state governments and instead channel the funds into projects that directly impact Nigerians’ welfare, especially in education, healthcare, and other essential services.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Sunday, Ologun commended the President’s ongoing reforms but cautioned that the benefits must be felt by the majority of citizens for the government’s renewed hope agenda to be meaningful.
“My wish indeed for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that he will make a difference in terms of making the country rise again in glory. The challenges are there, but he needs to also restructure his strategy,” Ologun said.
“For instance, may I suggest that the accrued revenue from the removal of fuel subsidy that he started channelling to the governors — can we stop giving the governors right now and look at how we can drive interventions that will positively impact the basic amenities that are available?”
He noted that while some food prices have started to drop, the pressure on disposable income remains high. Ologun stressed that the administration’s policies must translate into real relief for ordinary Nigerians.
“When we talk about government and democracy, it is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” he said. “In this new curve, I think the government should focus more on giving access to the majority of citizens to cushion the effects of the reforms.”
On the country’s 65th Independence anniversary, Ologun congratulated Nigerians but emphasised that leaders must manage the nation’s resources with integrity and accountability.
“The theme remains that all hands should be on deck. I just want to amend that a bit — that not just all hands, but all heads, all hearts, and all hands,” he said. “Those who have the privilege of managing our resources should do so with the fear of God to generate common wealth for common good.”
Turning to the ‘World Teachers’ Day’ celebration, Ologun paid tribute to educators, including his late mother, Mrs Olufunke Ologun, whom he described as “a wonderful teacher whose impact remains everlasting.”
“In our family, education was like it must take place, and looking back, we thank God,” he said. “In society, all of us must come together to convert human resource to human capital. That is what some nations of the world are enjoying today — we should not neglect it.”
Ologun called on government authorities to show empathy towards teachers and address the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has threatened industrial action.
“Right now, I pitch my tent on the side of ASUU and those in that profession — the government should see how they can be empathetic towards them to ensure that the basic needs and tools they require to serve diligently and effectively are provided,” he stated.
He also condemned the actions of parents who assault teachers, warning that neglecting educators could lead to a national crisis.
“Parents who sometimes go out there to beat teachers up should also consider that, in the absence of decent human capital in the society, a crisis may be inevitable,” he cautioned.
Ologun urged collective efforts to curb brain drain and support professionals in education, adding that the success of Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda would depend on how well the government empowers those who shape the nation’s human capital.
“What can we do to reverse the brain drain in the country so that at the end of the day, the Renewed Hope Agenda, if complemented by the efforts of the government to support those who help build the sustainability of Nigeria, can succeed?” he asked.
The legal practitioner concluded with a heartfelt message to educators across the country:
“There’s no option to education. Congratulations to the teachers and the community at large. Let’s all collaborate to support their efforts,”he concluded.
Boluwatife Enome
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