The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has said the worst phase of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms is behind Nigeria, expressing optimism that the country will begin to reap greater benefits from the policies.

She said stronger external reserves, easing inflation and returning confidence in the economy were signs that the reforms were beginning to yield results.

The minister stated this in Abuja on Tuesday at a press conference on the reform agenda of the Tinubu administration.

She spoke while endorsing a book titled The Courage to Reform: Architecture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR — Beyond 2027: Statecraft, Vision for National Renewal, scheduled for unveiling in Abuja on November 5, 2026.

The book, promoted by the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, examines the administration’s policies, including subsidy removal, tax reforms, NELFUND, local government autonomy and security reforms.

Tinubu is expected to attend the event as Special Guest of Honour, while Aliko Dangote is listed as Chief Launcher and Abdul Samad Rabiu as Co-Chief Launcher.

“The worst is behind us, and the gains are ahead,” she said.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim acknowledged that the reforms had come at a cost to Nigerian families but insisted that their sacrifices would not be in vain.

She said Tinubu inherited difficult economic decisions that could no longer be delayed when he assumed office on May 29, 2023.

According to her, petrol subsidy had drained resources meant for schools, hospitals and roads, while the tax system placed a heavy burden on the people it should have protected.

“He could have passed the problem to the next generation. He chose to confront it,” she said.

The minister said the administration’s tax reforms were designed to protect low-income earners and small businesses, ensuring that those with the least resources carried a smaller share of the burden.

She also cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an intervention aimed at expanding access to higher education for children from ordinary families who might otherwise struggle to pay school fees.

On local government administration, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said financial autonomy would bring resources closer to communities and improve the delivery of services.

Speaking on the impact of the reforms on women and vulnerable households, she said the administration had placed women at the centre of its Renewed Hope Agenda through social protection programmes and opportunities in education and enterprise.

“This administration does not ask Nigerians for blind faith. It asks to be judged on results, and it holds itself accountable for them,” she said.

She added that the government would continue to work towards easing the burden on families until they could feel the benefits of the reforms in their daily lives.

On concerns about possible additional taxes and the government’s borrowing plans, the minister referred questions on the technical details of tax policy to the Minister of Finance.

She, however, defended borrowing to fund development, arguing that countries seeking to build strong economies often relied on debt to finance infrastructure and other critical investments.

According to her, Nigeria needed massive investment in infrastructure and other sectors after years of inadequate investment.

She said borrowed funds should be directed towards projects capable of generating economic benefits for the country.

The minister also defended the administration’s efforts to improve access to education amid concerns about the rising number of out-of-school children.

She said the government was working with other levels of government to make education a priority and increase investment in children’s learning.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim urged the media to focus on facts as political debate ahead of the 2027 general election intensified.

“Our leader and father has shown the courage to reform. It is now our shared duty to see these reforms through,” she said.