Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has assigned a 34 per cent performance rating to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that the score mirrors the proportion of voters who backed the president in the 2023 presidential election. According to Punch, Makinde delivered this assessment during an exclusive interview with ARISE News on Friday, where he evaluated the federal government’s governance across several key sectors. The governor argued that the numerical rating reflects the reality that the president must secure the support of the 67 per cent of Nigerians who voted against him to effectively implement his policies.
Despite the low overall rating, Makinde commended the federal government for advancing the proposal to establish state police. He has long advocated for decentralised policing structures and praised Tinubu for allowing states to form their own police forces based on local capacity and readiness. The governor stated that the president had done well in this specific area, viewing it as a necessary step toward addressing security challenges that vary significantly across Nigeria’s diverse regions. This endorsement stands in contrast to his broader criticisms of the administration’s economic and social policies.
On the subject of education, Makinde acknowledged the Federal Government’s introduction of a student loan scheme but described it as only a small fraction of the reforms required. He argued that providing financial assistance to students does not automatically resolve the underlying challenges within the sector. According to the governor, the government must also focus on improving teachers’ welfare and enhancing security in educational institutions to ensure that students receive a quality education. He noted that while providing money for school access is a movement in the right direction, it is insufficient on its own.
Makinde further emphasised that education reforms must go beyond funding to ensure that young Nigerians acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for employment or entrepreneurship. He maintained that the current administration’s economic policies have not sufficiently translated into improved incomes or living conditions for the majority of citizens. Although he recognised some macroeconomic stabilisation efforts, he called for more coordinated measures to address the country’s economic, security, and educational crises. The governor has proposed his own 'Reset Nigeria' agenda as an alternative approach to the current federal policies, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive strategy to tackle these persistent national challenges.