The Coalition of Present and Past Student Leaders for APM (COPPSLA), Nigeria, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government to adopt sustainable economic policies to address the rising cost of living, insisting that a 30-day fuel discount cannot provide a lasting solution to the economic hardship confronting millions of Nigerians.
In a press statement, COPPSLA expressed concern over the persistent financial difficulties facing households across the country, urging the Federal Government to move beyond temporary relief measures and implement policies that would restore citizens’ purchasing power, improve living standards and strengthen economic security.
The coalition acknowledged that a 30-day fuel discount could provide temporary relief to commuters, commercial transport operators and other consumers. However, it maintained that such an intervention would have limited impact if the underlying causes of economic hardship, including high food prices, rising transportation costs, expensive healthcare and unaffordable housing, remained unresolved.
According to COPPSLA, millions of Nigerians continue to struggle to meet their basic needs, while students face increasing educational expenses, workers contend with the rising cost of living, and small business owners grapple with high operating costs that threaten their survival.
The coalition noted that the economic situation had pushed many households beyond the pursuit of a comfortable standard of living, leaving them struggling to afford essential goods and services.
It, therefore, called on the Tinubu administration to demonstrate greater urgency, accountability and strategic direction in addressing the country’s economic challenges.
While acknowledging that some economic reforms might require time to deliver their intended benefits, COPPSLA stressed that the burden of adjustment should not fall disproportionately on ordinary Nigerians.
It maintained that meaningful economic reforms must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens through affordable food, reliable energy, employment opportunities, sustainable business growth and increased purchasing power.
COPPSLA Outlines Six Priorities for Economic Recovery
To address the prevailing hardship, the coalition outlined six key areas it believes the Federal Government should prioritise in its economic recovery strategy.
First, sustainable reduction in food prices: COPPSLA called for practical measures to make essential food items more affordable through increased support for farmers, improved agricultural productivity, stronger food distribution networks and decisive action against insecurity in farming communities.
It argued that improving food production and distribution would help ease the pressure on household budgets and strengthen national food security.
Second, a comprehensive energy and transportation strategy: The coalition urged the government to look beyond temporary fuel discounts and pursue long-term measures to improve energy supply, encourage healthy competition, strengthen domestic refining capacity and reduce transportation costs for businesses and consumers.
According to COPPSLA, a sustainable approach to energy and transportation would help ease production costs, support economic activities and reduce the financial burden on Nigerians.
Third, improved wages and purchasing power: The organisation called for workers’ earnings to reflect prevailing economic realities, urging the government to strengthen wage implementation, promote productive employment and introduce policies that would enable citizens to meet their essential needs without sinking further into poverty.
It stressed that improved earnings must be accompanied by measures capable of addressing the rising costs of goods and services.
Fourth, support for small businesses and young entrepreneurs: COPPSLA identified small and medium-sized enterprises as critical drivers of job creation and economic growth, urging the government to expand access to affordable financing, improve electricity supply, create a more stable business environment and provide targeted support for young entrepreneurs.
It maintained that empowering small businesses would help stimulate economic activities, expand employment opportunities and improve the livelihoods of young Nigerians.
Fifth, greater accountability and transparency: The coalition called on the Federal Government to provide clear information on the implementation, costs and outcomes of its economic policies.
It said Nigerians deserved to understand how public resources were being utilised, what results government interventions were expected to achieve and how their impact on household welfare, employment and the cost of living would be measured.
Sixth, targeted and sustainable social protection: COPPSLA urged the government to strengthen support for vulnerable households, students, pensioners, low-income earners and unemployed Nigerians.
It emphasised that effective social protection programmes should provide meaningful assistance to those most affected by the economic crisis while broader reforms aimed at stabilising the economy continue.
COPPSLA Calls for Greater Urgency, Measurable Results
The coalition expressed concern that the current economic situation continued to generate uncertainty among Nigerians struggling to cope with rising living expenses.
It argued that when citizens are asked to endure the difficulties associated with economic reforms, the government must demonstrate that the sacrifices being made are producing measurable benefits that are fairly distributed across society.
COPPSLA maintained that a 30-day fuel discount, although potentially helpful in the short term, could not substitute for a comprehensive economic recovery plan capable of addressing the structural causes of hardship.
It consequently urged President Tinubu to strengthen economic coordination, establish clear policy priorities and ensure that government interventions deliver practical improvements in the daily lives of Nigerians.
The coalition also warned that prolonged economic hardship could deepen public frustration and undermine the prospects of young people, students, workers and small business owners seeking a more secure future.
According to the organisation, Nigeria possesses significant human and natural resources, but these resources must be translated into productive investments, sustainable employment, affordable essential goods and improved living standards.
It called for a deliberate economic strategy that places citizens’ welfare at the centre of governance and measures progress by the tangible benefits delivered to households and businesses.
‘Nigerians Deserve Lasting Solutions, Not Temporary Relief’
Reaffirming its position, COPPSLA insisted that the Federal Government must move from short-term interventions to sustainable economic recovery supported by clear targets, transparent implementation and measurable outcomes.
The coalition stressed that the success of any economic policy should ultimately be assessed by its impact on citizens’ ability to afford food, access education, obtain healthcare, sustain businesses and live with dignity.
It urged the Tinubu administration to ensure that economic reforms deliver inclusive benefits rather than leaving vulnerable citizens to bear a disproportionate share of the adjustment costs.
COPPSLA concluded that Nigerians deserve an economy that works for ordinary citizens through lasting improvements in their welfare, rather than temporary relief measures that expire while the underlying challenges persist.
Signed:
Coalition of Present and Past Student Leaders for APM (COPPSLA), Nigeria
