The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to focus on easing economic hardship rather than promoting President Bola Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term in 2027.

The association accused Oyedele of giving undue attention to the president’s re-election prospects while Nigerians continue to grapple with high petrol prices, rising food costs, widespread poverty and declining purchasing power.

HURIWA made its position known in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, arguing that the minister should concentrate on delivering economic improvements instead of discussing how investors view Tinubu’s political future.

The criticism followed Oyedele’s remarks at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, where he said domestic and international financial markets had largely written off opposition parties as unserious and were already factoring in the possibility of Tinubu winning a second term.

Oyedele had also argued that investors expected continuity in the administration’s economic reforms and warned that reversing policies such as petrol subsidy removal could undermine investor confidence and put renewed pressure on the naira.

However, HURIWA maintained that the views of foreign investors and financial markets could not determine the outcome of Nigeria’s next presidential election.

According to the association, the decision on who governs the country belongs to Nigerians, whose votes will ultimately determine the president’s political future.

It questioned the appropriateness of a senior government economic official discussing electoral projections at an international economic gathering while households struggle to afford basic necessities.

The group challenged Oyedele to explain how the federal government intends to reduce the cost of food, transportation and electricity, create jobs, strengthen productive sectors and restore workers’ purchasing power.

HURIWA argued that economic performance should be assessed through tangible improvements in citizens’ living conditions rather than investor expectations about the outcome of the 2027 election.

The association also raised concerns about Nigeria’s borrowing profile, calling for greater transparency over government loans, expenditure priorities and the projects financed through borrowed funds.

It said rising revenue collections should prompt closer scrutiny of public spending and fiscal discipline, particularly as the government continues to rely on borrowing to finance its activities.

HURIWA warned that loans that fail to produce measurable improvements in public welfare could leave future generations with a growing financial burden.

The group also challenged the argument that petrol subsidies were inherently incompatible with economic development, maintaining that properly managed public support programmes could help protect vulnerable households from economic shocks.

It argued that corruption, waste, weak oversight and poor implementation should be addressed when designing such interventions, rather than dismissing government support for struggling citizens outright.

According to HURIWA, the removal of petrol subsidies without sufficient measures to protect low-income households has intensified the pressure on Nigerians already battling rising living costs.

The association insisted that economic reforms would struggle to retain public support if citizens continued to bear their costs without experiencing corresponding improvements in their welfare.

It called on the Tinubu administration to prioritise measures that reduce living expenses, expand employment opportunities, improve household purchasing power and ensure that public revenue translates into better living conditions.

HURIWA maintained that the government must provide clearer explanations of its economic policies and demonstrate how its decisions would make essential goods and services more affordable.

The association said the administration’s economic record should ultimately be judged by Nigerians’ living conditions, while the electorate retains the final say on Tinubu’s bid for another term in office.