NLC Backs Hashim, Adebayo Economic Plans, Faults Tinubu, Atiku, Obi

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has expressed support for the economic positions of the Accord Party presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, and his Social Democratic Party (SDP) counterpart, Adewole Adebayo, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Ajaero said the economic proposals of the two presidential hopefuls deserved serious public attention and engagement, particularly at a time when Nigerians were seeking practical solutions to the country’s economic challenges.

The NLC president stated this during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, while responding to a question on the economic policy proposals of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Rather than focusing solely on Atiku’s proposals, Ajaero said he had examined the economic positions of Hashim and Adebayo and found aspects of their programmes worthy of consideration.

He contrasted their approaches with those of President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, whom he said broadly shared similar economic thinking.

Ajaero described the economic orientation of the three politicians as “far-right” market-oriented politics, while suggesting that the positions canvassed by Hashim and Adebayo offered alternative perspectives that should be subjected to wider public debate.

The NLC president’s comments have drawn attention to Hashim’s economic agenda, particularly his Energy First policy, which places affordable energy, increased domestic production, industrialisation and expansion of productive capacity at the centre of his proposed economic transformation.

Under the proposed agenda, Hashim has advocated a starting petrol price of ₦605 per litre, with a long-term target of between ₦200 and ₦300 per litre through reduced production costs, increased domestic refining, higher crude oil output and improved efficiency across the energy sector.

Hashim has also proposed increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production to at least four million barrels per day within 24 months.

The Accord candidate has said the plan would be complemented by expansion of domestic refining capacity and investment in energy infrastructure as part of efforts to transform Nigeria into a major global energy power.

Ajaero’s remarks have therefore placed renewed focus on the competing economic visions that could shape the 2027 presidential contest, particularly proposals addressing energy costs, domestic production, industrialisation, employment and the purchasing power of Nigerians.

With economic hardship remaining a major concern for households and businesses, the NLC president urged Nigerians to pay attention to the substance of the various policy proposals as political parties and candidates begin to position themselves for the 2027 election.