Citizens Assessment Of President Tinubu’s Performance, One Year In Office

Hunger, Poverty & Dissatisfaction Trail President Tinubu’s 1^st Year in Office – API National Survey

Abuja, Nigeria, May 29^th, 2024 – Africa Polling Institute hereby releases its May 2024 #NigeriaSpeaks survey report. The national survey was administered between May 1^st and 18^th, 2024, to elicit citizens’ opinions and assessments of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first Year in Office. The survey was conducted using a stratified random sampling method, ensuring representation from all nationwide demographic groups. A total of 3,996 citizens were interviewed, providing a robust and diverse dataset for analysis. 

This latest API national survey brings to light a stark reality: Hunger, Poverty, and Dissatisfaction are the harsh realities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s One Year in Office, as an overwhelming majority of citizens (84%) express profound sadness with the current state of affairs in the country. Their voices, filled with dissatisfaction, are a clear call for action, as a significant majority of citizens (81%) feel the country is headed in the wrong direction, identifying Hunger (36%), Inability to meet basic needs (28%), Unemployment (13%), Heightened Insecurity (9%), and Poor Electricity Supply (5%) as the biggest challenges facing them personally today. In addition, a staggering 74% of citizens affirmed that their personal economic situation has deteriorated over the last year, compared to 20% who said their personal economic situation had remained the same and a mere 5% who said it had improved. 

Furthermore, in terms of the job performance of President Tinubu, a significant 78% of citizens expressed that he had performed abysmally, with 49% rating him “Very Poor” and 29% “Poor.” This widespread dissatisfaction also extends to the performance of other arms of government, as a striking 81% of citizens rated Senate President Godswill Akpabio dismally, compared to 79% who rated Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, poorly. Also, the Nigerian Judiciary under the CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, was not spared, as 75% of citizens also rated him poorly. 

In addition, citizens were asked to assess the performance of President Tinubu’s Cabinet in order to identify the performing and non-performing ministers. Interestingly, 68% of citizens thought that none of the cabinet members had performed well since their appointments. However, 32% were willing to identify those they considered the top and least performing ministers. Based on the responses, the top five performing ministers are: Professor Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education (27%); Former River State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT (25%); Former Ebonyi State Governor, Dr. Dave Umahi, the Minister for Works and Housing (21%); Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy (14%); and Professor Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare (12%). 

On the other hand, the least-performing ministers are: Hon. Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power (44%); Dr. Dave Umahi, Minister of Works and Housing (30%); Hon. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy (27%); Hon. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (22%); and Hon. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security (20%). It is worth noting that the data listed Dr. Dave Umahi among the top-performing and least-performing ministers, and this may be a result of the mixed sentiments that have engulfed conversations over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, of which he has been in the eye of the storm.

Finally, from the survey fieldwork, API has keenly observed a growing mass of aggrieved and discontented citizens nationwide, especially among the youth. Many are unemployed or underemployed and have become local crusaders and social activists in their communities, waiting for the slightest opportunity to vent their anger against fellow citizens and the Nigerian state.  

Survey Methodology

This survey is part of the #NigeriaSpeaks series of national public attitudes surveys and polls conducted by Africa Polling Institute (API). The #NigeriaSpeaks project is a powerful governance tool, a periodic series of nationwide public opinion polls and surveys, to bridge the gap in credible primary data. It captures public attitudes and perceptions, giving citizens a significant role in shaping public policy discourse, practice, and advocacy while underscoring the importance of their voices in strengthening democracy. This latest national survey was administered between May 1^st and 18^th, 2024, to elicit citizens’ opinions and assessments of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 1^st Year in Office. It involved in-person, face-to-face, household interviews with a stratified random nationwide sample. 

A total of 3,996 randomly selected Nigerians aged 18 years and above were interviewed in the 36 States and the FCT, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country. Three Local Government Areas (LGAs) were visited in each of the 36 States, covering the 108 Senatorial Districts in the country, as well as the urban, semi-urban, and rural residents. Only in the FCT were the entire 6 LGAs visited. The data was weighted using the 2016 population estimates by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to enhance its representativeness to the national population. With a sample of this size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results are statistically precise – within a range of plus or minus 3%. For scholars, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who wish to undertake further statistical analysis of our data, the raw data for this national survey can be purchased on our website, www.africapolling.org 

Africa Polling Institute (API) is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan opinion research think-tank that conducts opinion polls, surveys, social research, and evaluation studies at the intersection of democracy, governance, economic conditions, markets, and public life to support better public policy, practice, and advocacy in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Signed

Professor Bell Ihua, mni

Executive Director, Africa Polling Institute
Email: info@africapolling.org Website: www.africapolling.org Tel: +234 8064841888.