The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the Federal Government’s planned $1 billion social protection programme as a panic measure triggered by growing public support for its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s proposal for a targeted production subsidy to reduce the cost of living.
In a statement issued Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of worsening economic hardship through what it called failed policies, before rolling out palliatives as the 2027 elections approach.
The ADC questioned why the government had suddenly found $1 billion for social intervention after years of insisting there was no money to cushion the effects of its reforms.
“For three years, Nigerians have cried under the weight of food prices, transport costs and collapsing purchasing power, while this government insisted that there was no money to cushion the effects of its reforms. Now that elections are approaching, it has suddenly found $1 billion for the poor,” the party said.
The opposition party argued that the government’s move amounted to a tacit admission that its economic reforms, including the removal of the fuel subsidy, had inflicted severe shocks on ordinary citizens and said this vindicated Atiku’s long-standing call for a targeted production subsidy, an idea it said the administration had previously dismissed.
“This is precisely what our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has been saying in proposing a targeted production subsidy to bring down the cost of living,” the ADC said.
The party said rising food, fuel, transport and energy costs had eroded citizens’ purchasing power, and argued that a one-off payment of ₦40,000 to families would not address the underlying economic problems. It also referenced the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs’ earlier claim that more than ₦600 billion had been disbursed to just over 10 million households over the past three years, and demanded evidence of the beneficiaries and independently verified proof of the programme’s impact.
The ADC further queried the involvement of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu in unveiling the new programme, arguing that her constitutional status does not confer authority to administer public funds.
“Which makes us to ask again: Is this a Federal Government programme or a project of the First Lady? Who exactly is funding it? Under which budget head or financing arrangement was the money approved?” the party asked.
It also demanded clarity on the approval process, who would be responsible for accounting for the funds, who would control disbursement, and how the programme would be subjected to oversight by the Auditor-General and the National Assembly.
“One billion dollars is public business, and public business requires transparency,” the party said.
While saying it supported genuine efforts to protect vulnerable Nigerians, the ADC insisted government should tackle the root causes of poverty rather than rely on palliatives.
“The real choice before Nigerians is becoming clearer every day: between a government that is content on managing poverty and an alternative determined to restore purchasing power, production and dignity,” the party said.
It added that if the administration had now recognised the need to shield citizens from the effects of its economic policies, it should also acknowledge the validity of Atiku’s argument that reforms must be paired with relief for citizens.
“Reform without relief is not courage; it is cruelty,” the ADC said.
