Experts carpet administration’s performance, claim zero relief for Nigerians
Many will doubt it, but President Bola Tinubu’s job approval rating in the country has been on the upward swing in the last few months, according to the latest approval rating from the NOI Polls.
Though history suggests a president’s fortunes can turn dramatically, for better or worse, on economic swings from the halfway mark of his first term to the next Election Day, Nigerians remain largely cautiously optimistic about the gains of the reforms, with most submitting to fate about the reforms.
Precisely, Tinubu’s approval rating has been on a gradual rise since the start of this year. It rose from a low of 11 per cent in Feb 2024, and hovered around less than 20 per cent all through 2024 until this year, where it’s up at 40 per cent as of March. This means that Mr. The President’s reforms seem to be gaining acceptance.
While still navigating significant economic challenges, the improved perception suggests a cautious optimism among some segments of the populace.
According to data released by NOI Polls for April 2025, there has been a notable, albeit gradual, rise in the percentage of Nigerians who approve of President Tinubu’s job performance. This comes after a period of considerable public dissatisfaction, particularly concerning economic hardship and the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.
Previous NOI Polls data indicated a low point in February 2024, where the President’s approval rating dipped to 11 per cent. However, the new figures suggested a move away from that low, reflecting potential positive shifts in public sentiment. The highest approval rating recorded for President Tinubu since assuming office was 43 per cent in June 2023, shortly after his inauguration.
Analysts suggested this modest improvement might be attributed to various factors, including recent government initiatives, increased communication efforts, or a perception among some citizens that the economic situation, while still challenging, may be stabilising. However, it’s crucial to note that the broader sentiment regarding the country’s economic direction remains largely negative, with a significant majority of Nigerians still expressing concerns about rising living costs, poverty, and unemployment.
While some experts declined to comment on the matter, others queried the rationale for such a rating, citing the snail speed development of the current administration in the last two years.
Speaking with The Guardian, a telecoms expert, Kehinde Aluko, doubted the poll’s accuracy. Coming from the angle of unemployment that is ravaging the country, he said while the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a decrease in the unemployment rate, the underlying structure of the labour market still indicates challenges.
Aluko submitted that a large percentage of the workforce is in self-employment and non-paid jobs, suggesting limited formal employment opportunities and a struggle for many to earn a decent living.
According to him, despite initiatives to empower youth with skills, Nigeria’s human capital index remains low, with many young people lacking access to quality education, training, and employment opportunities.
He noted that the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023 drastically increased fuel prices, saying this had a cascading effect, driving up transportation costs, food prices, and the overall cost of living.
“While intended to free up government revenue, the immediate effect has been significant hardship for low and middle-income households. Food inflation remains a major concern, making necessities unaffordable for many. Despite government efforts to boost agricultural output, the impact of insecurity in food-producing regions and supply chain disruptions continue to push prices higher,” he stated.
From his perspective, macroeconomist and Investment expert, Dr Vincent Nwani, said as it is well known to everybody, a 40 per cent mark in the university is not a pass mark. “In universities, the pass mark is 50 per cent. I don’t know what the rating was before but if it is now 40 per cent, it means it has improved. If you ask me about his rating last year and compare it with this year, I will say it has improved.
“It has improved in the sense that personally, I have got used to the inflation; I am now sadly used to buying fuel at almost N900 per litre. This time last year, I was not used to Band A and paying almost N250 per kilowatt from the N66 we were paying before. This time last year, if you asked me, I would have scored him F9 or 0 but now based on the fact that we are now used to the inflation, I would not score him 0 again. The fact is if you are coming from 0, 40 per cent is a big improvement and is good news.”
Awani however, said the fact remains that a 40 per cent approval rating is still very low, saying “I don’t want to overly flog matters, but I need to ask, who did they interview to get the approval rating? Are rich people enjoying it? Is it APC members that will naturally agree or opposition members? Did they interview everyday Nigerians like you and I? We need to know what the methodology looks like that they used in arriving at what they arrived at?”
He noted that because Nigerians are now getting used to the effects of the reforms, the approval rating would be better than last year “Based on the social science framework, approval ratings should be better than last year but are we where we are supposed to be in terms of wellbeing, development, infrastructure and other things? The answer is a big no. Has the economy improved in any way? The answer is no. Are we, however, getting used to the situation? I will say yes,” he said.
Be that as it may, NOI Polls consistently monitors public opinion on governance and key national issues. The latest report provides a detailed breakdown of approval ratings across various demographics and policy areas, offering valuable insights into the public’s evolving perception of the current administration.
Several opposition figures have taken a swipe at the performance of President Tinubu in the last two years, describing it as abysmal and disappointing.
INDEED, against the backdrop of current reforms amid the socio-economic challenges affecting several millions of Nigerians, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in his latest outburst contained in a statement posted via his verified X account, asserted that the citizens are not just tired, but “are angry, and rightfully so.”
The erstwhile Vice-President and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 General Elections stated that Tinubu’s administration has no achievements to stand on, and no credible record to defend.
He described the administration’s economic policies and attendant hardship as the “last refuge of the incompetent”
“And make no mistake— an incompetent captain does not only wreck his ship; he endangers the lives of everyone on board,” Atiku noted in the statement, adding, “Inflation is choking the masses, jobs are vanishing.”
Atiku further said the situation is about Nigerians versus an administration that has plunged the country into untold hardship.
The former Vice-President wrote: “The economy is in freefall. Inflation is choking the masses. Jobs are vanishing. Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying levels. Nigerians are not just tired — they are angry, and rightfully so.”
He averred: “This moment is about collective survival. The real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure.
“We must reject every attempt to distract us with ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments. “These are tools of manipulation, designed to divide and conquer, used by those with nothing else to offer.”
Atiku also explained that the need for him to speak out on the state of the Nigerian economy resulted from calls from “concerned Nigerians.”
On his part, a former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in one of his recent posts on social media, called for action against insecurity and economic hardship in the country.
Citing recent cases of kidnappings across the country, Obi stated that it was time to “declare war on this massive insecurity.”
In a statement on X.com, Obi wrote, “When I say we should declare war on the economy, power, and insecurity, some people spin the narrative, while others complain. But what else can we do?
The former Anambra State Governor, hence, called for a united battle against the challenges facing the nation.
“We cannot continue living like this,” Obi said. “It’s time for bold action, collective resolve, and a united front against these challenges.
“We must declare war on this massive insecurity and other ills that threaten our society and work tirelessly to build a safer, more prosperous, and just society for all,” he added.