Economist Paul Alaje has urged Nigerians to assess presidential candidates for the 2027 election based on their ability to boost productivity and improve citizens’ purchasing power.

According to Voice of Naija, Alaje, a Senior Economist at SPM Professionals, made the call during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, warning that candidates without clear plans to increase productivity risk worsening the country’s economic challenges.

“Anybody who is not discussing productivity is going to run the economy down,” he said, stressing that voters should look beyond campaign promises and examine how proposed policies would improve their standard of living.

The economist identified the ability of Nigerians to afford basic necessities, including food and rent, as a key measure of effective economic leadership. He urged voters to support candidates whose policies would strengthen their purchasing power and enable them to afford more goods and services.

Alaje also called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address Nigeria’s electricity challenges, arguing that reliable power supply is essential for businesses to increase production and drive economic growth.