On Tuesday, APC chieftain and founding father Osita Okechukwu told Arise Television’s Prime Time that while [President Bola Tinubu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bola_Tinubu)’s reform agenda has produced positive macro‑economic outcomes, the micro‑economic signals – including soaring living costs, dwindling purchasing power and high unemployment – remain deeply troubling for Nigerians.
**What micro‑economic challenges were highlighted?**
Okechukwu pointed out that despite a youthful population, many Nigerians continue to face a high cost of living and limited job opportunities. He said the reforms have not translated into improved purchasing power for the average citizen.
**How has the naira devaluation affected businesses?**
He explained that the recent float of the naira makes it harder for small and medium‑scale enterprises to import essential machinery, a situation compounded by rising energy prices that further dampen industrial growth.
**What did Okechukwu say about the overall reform programme?**
“The economic reforms have done well at the macroeconomic level, but microeconomic indicators are very poor,” he asserted. “When we talk about the purchasing power of the citizenry, the high cost of living and joblessness, the president’s economic reform programme has not helped.”
**Why does he believe the reforms fell short?**
According to Okechukwu, the underlying neoliberal assumption—that liberalising policies will automatically boost the private sector—has not materialised because small‑scale and medium‑scale industries are struggling under the combined weight of currency volatility and higher energy costs.
**What is the broader implication for Nigeria’s economy?**
He warned that without addressing these micro‑level constraints, the promised benefits of the reform agenda may remain limited to headline macro‑economic statistics, leaving the majority of Nigerians without tangible improvement in their daily lives.
[All Progressives Congress (APC)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Progressives_Congress) founder Osita Okechukwu’s remarks underscore a growing disconnect between policy intent and lived reality for many Nigerians.