The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu saved no fewer than 27 states from economic collapse.

Idris made the statement on Saturday while delivering a lecture at the 34th convocation and 43rd Founders’ Day of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna.

Speaking on the theme “Youth and Nation Building: Navigating Opportunities in an Era of National Reforms,” the minister said that before Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, many states were struggling to meet basic obligations, including the payment of workers’ salaries.
“About 27 states could not pay salaries before this administration came in,” Idris said.

“President Tinubu came into office with a clear plan. The reforms he initiated have stabilised state finances. Today, states are earning almost three times what they used to receive.”

According to him, the improved revenue profile has enabled states to clear salary arrears, embark on major infrastructure projects, and deliver tangible dividends of democracy to their citizens.

“These gains are the direct outcome of President Tinubu’s reforms and his leadership strategy,” the minister stated.

Idris emphasised that nation-building is impossible without continuous reforms, noting that difficult decisions are often required to correct structural problems and move the country forward.

“There can be no nation-building without reforms. If you stop reforming, you stop developing,” he said.
He added that the reforms helped Nigeria avoid a deeper economic crisis that could have emerged if corrective measures were delayed.

The minister also said the ongoing reforms are creating new opportunities for Nigerian youths, urging them to position themselves to benefit from the evolving economic landscape.