Shettima Showcases Tinubu’s People-Centered Governance at Kaduna Engagement Forum

Kaduna, Nigeria – July 29, 2025

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance, emphasizing policies shaped by citizen engagement and empathy. Speaking at a two-day Government-Citizens Engagement Session in Kaduna, organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Shettima outlined how the administration is institutionalizing public participation in policymaking.

Represented by Dr. Aliyu Umar Moddibo, Special Adviser to the President on General Duties, Shettima described the forum as a cornerstone of Tinubu’s leadership style.

“This administration is neither crafting policy in solitude nor assuming that technocracy alone delivers results. We are convening conversations and institutionalizing listening,” he said.

Reforms Driven by Public Input

Shettima highlighted several reforms shaped by citizen feedback:

Student Loan Law Overhaul: The initial Access to Higher Education Act was repealed and reenacted after consultations, eliminating income ceilings and guarantor requirements.
Tax Policy Adjustments: Stakeholder engagement led to revisions in proposed tax reforms, with contentious levies like the 10% single-use plastic tax and telecom tax suspended pending further review.
Fuel Subsidy Removal: The 2023 removal, though controversial, was accompanied by palliatives—including increased wages, tax waivers on diesel, and the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses—following negotiations with labor unions.

“No student should be disqualified for being born on the wrong side of poverty,” Shettima noted, underscoring the government’s social equity focus.

Economic Impact

Official data shows the subsidy removal saved $1.32 billion in two months, with projections of up to $10 billion annually being redirected to infrastructure and social programs. Tinubu’s currency reforms, moving towards a market-driven naira, are also credited with reducing national debt and stimulating non-oil sector growth.

A Legacy of Engagement

Shettima praised the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation for fostering civic dialogue, calling it “a torch that must never be extinguished.” He framed Tinubu’s governance style as co-creation with citizens rather than top-down imposition.

Rising from Lagos State Governor (1999–2007) to the presidency in 2023, Tinubu’s leadership, shaped by years of political struggle—including opposition to military rule—has now evolved into what Shettima described as “governing hand-in-hand with the people.”

Outlook

With Nigeria grappling with economic challenges, the administration’s emphasis on participatory governance aims to boost education, reduce inequality, and drive sustainable growth.

“We are listening, learning, and leading together with Nigerians,” Shettima affirmed, pledging that the government will continue to adapt policies to the people’s