Outgoing British envoy praises Tinubu’s economic reforms

The outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, on Tuesday said President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms would put Nigeria on a better footing in the long term.

A statement by Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser to the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, said the British High Commissioner spoke in Abuja during a farewell visit to the Revenue House.

According to Montgomery, although the reforms might have caused short-term pain for ordinary people, they are fundamental to restoring vitality to the economy.

The envoy said that being in Nigeria over a three-year period, when so much had happened for the good, was awesome.

“I know that a lot of the economic reforms are tough, and they can cause short-term pain for ordinary people, you know, devaluation, inflation, and so forth.

“However, I stand by and continue to brief our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, who’s hoping to speak to Mr President at some point in the next couple of weeks.

“I know that Nigeria is complicated. I know that budget and fiscal management are always particularly difficult because of the way the budget works in the National Assembly,” he said.

He said that what the country’s economic management team, which includes the NRS boss, had done to try and put Nigeria on a better economic footing had been fantastic.

Montgomery described the NRS as one of the best partners of the British High Commission, and commended Adedeji for doing a “tough but good work”.

Responding, the NRS chairman expressed regret that Montgomery was leaving the country at this time, while applauding the way he undertook his assignment.

“The way you’ve done this work actually changed the story, most especially your support, both personal as well as the technical assistance for our reforms.

“The support is not lost on us. I would also like to thank you for your commitment, and I am very grateful.

“You saw us as part of the economic fabric of this country. Those engagements really went a long way in shaping our reforms,” Adedeji said.

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