Working People United (WPU), a newly unveiled group comprising Nigerians across different sectors has expressed support for the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arguing that the policies could help place Nigeria on a stronger and more sustainable economic path.
The group said some of the reforms implemented by the Tinubu administration have created difficulties for citizens in the short term but maintained that the measures were necessary to address longstanding economic challenges and lay the foundation for future growth.
WPU also announced plans to mobilise millions of Nigerian workers, artisans, traders, farmers, professionals and other citizens in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The group made its position known during its official unveiling in Abuja on Friday. Speaking at the event, the Interim National Coordinator of WPU, Comrade Williams Akporeha, described the administration’s economic programme as a series of significant measures intended to reposition the country for sustainable development and broader economic prosperity.
Akporeha said the government had taken what he described as difficult but decisive steps since Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023. According to him, the reforms demonstrate the administration’s determination to address structural issues affecting Nigeria’s economy rather than rely solely on short-term solutions.
“Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu has taken bold and decisive steps to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth and shared prosperity,” he said.
The WPU coordinator acknowledged that the economic policies have not been without challenges for Nigerians. However, he argued that the difficulties associated with some of the reforms should be viewed within the broader objective of strengthening the economy and creating conditions for long-term development.
Pointing out measures he said were aimed at improving the welfare of workers and supporting Nigerians affected by the economic adjustments. According to him, the administration’s interventions have gone beyond wage-related measures and included initiatives intended to reduce the pressure of the reforms on vulnerable members of society.
Akporeha said WPU was established partly to provide Nigerians with information about the government’s economic policies and create a platform for dialogue between citizens and government authorities. He said the organisation intends to encourage what it described as constructive engagement rather than simply political mobilisation.
“Working People United stands as a platform to enlighten Nigerians about these reforms, promote constructive engagement between government and citizens, and advocate policies that will move the nation forward,” Akporeha said.
He added that the organisation’s objective was to bring together people from different parts of the economy and encourage them to support policies and programmes that it believes can strengthen Nigeria’s economy and institutions.
“Our goal is to mobilise millions of workers, artisans, traders, farmers, professionals and everyday Nigerians to support the continuation of policies and programmes designed to rebuild our economy and strengthen our national institutions for a greater Nigeria,” he said.
The group said its activities would focus on promoting awareness of government policies while advocating measures it believes would improve economic stability and the welfare of Nigerians. It described its mission as patriotic and said it intends to build support across different sectors and social groups.
The group’s endorsement comes as President Tinubu’s administration continues to implement economic reforms that have generated significant public discussion. Since taking office, the government has pursued major changes to Nigeria’s economic framework, with supporters arguing that the measures are necessary for long-term economic restructuring, while critics have raised concerns about their immediate impact on households and businesses.
Also speaking at the Abuja event, former Nigerian Ambassador to Madagascar, Mauritius and Mozambique, Ambassador Yamaha Osemobo, explained his decision to join WPU.
Osemobo said he became part of the movement because of its stated commitment to promoting the policies of the Tinubu administration. He described those policies as beneficial to Nigeria’s development and expressed support for the group’s objective of encouraging Nigerians to understand and engage with the government’s economic programme.
The unveiling of WPU marks the beginning of what the organisation says will be a broader mobilisation campaign among workers and other groups across Nigeria. The organisation’s leadership said it intends to expand its reach and engage citizens from different sectors as it promotes support for the continuation of the current administration’s policies.
While the group has expressed confidence in the long-term benefits of the reforms, the economic measures remain a subject of public debate, particularly over their effects on the cost of living, household incomes and business operations. WPU’s position represents its stated assessment of the reforms and its decision to support their continuation.
It’s declared plans are to mobilise millions of Nigerians, positioning itself as an advocacy and mobilisation platform ahead of the country’s next presidential election. Its activities are expected to focus on communicating the administration’s policies and making the case for their continuation among the constituencies it seeks to organise.
