APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru Rejects NBS Inflation Figures

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Ajibola Basiru, has rejected the inflation figures of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Last Monday, the agency, which is under the executive arm of the government, released a report that inflation in Nigeria increased by 34.19 per cent as a result of the rising cost of food.

On Wednesday, while appearing as a guest of a flagship programme on Channels Television, Politics Today, anchored by Mr Seun Okinbaloye, the former Senator said he does not agree that the average prices of goods and services went up by over 30 per cent on a year-on-year basis as claimed by the NBS.

He admitted that the country was facing economic challenges like others across the globe, but it was not worse than being bandied around by the agency and some members of the opposition.

The former lawmaker emphasised that the government of President Bola Tinubu was doing everything possible to make the economy viable again.

When asked what he feels the inflation numbers should be, he declined to state any but maintained that he does not agree with the data released by the stats office, which churns out the figures monthly.

“I know that there are inflation challenges but I disagree it is not up to that level. I don’t agree,” the ruling party’s scribe declared on the programme to the amazement of the host.

He also claimed that the demands of Nigerians planning a nationwide protest from August 1, 2024, were politically motivated, stressing that the government was trying its best to make citizens happy.

Earlier in the day, after the APC 153rd National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja, Mr Basiru told journalists that President Tinubu would address most of the economic challenges facing the nation.

“We noted that since coming on board in 2023, the government met quite several challenges, especially economic challenges, and Mr President is gradually implementing programmes and policies that would in the nearest future bring succour and relief to the citizens,” he stated, appealing to those planning the demonstrations to be patient with the government for these policies to yield results.