The African Democratic Congress has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of entering “panic mode” before the 2027 general election, arguing that a proposed monthly cash payment of N50,000 is designed to influence voters rather than provide meaningful relief from economic hardship.
Opposition links proposed payment to 2027 campaign
In a statement dated Saturday, October 31, and signed by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the Federal Government’s proposed N50,000 monthly support programme appeared to be a politically motivated response to the opposition’s economic message.
The party said it has pledged, alongside its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, to make lower living costs and greater affordability central to its 2027 campaign. It claimed the government’s latest announcement reflected an effort to recover public backing after those promises gained attention.
Abdullahi said the administration had begun unveiling a series of measures after the ADC focused its campaign on the cost-of-living crisis.
“President Tinubu is now in complete panic mode,” Abdullahi said. “Since the ADC and our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, made affordability and lower living costs the main pillars of our campaign, the government has rolled out one desperate intervention after another.”
Previous relief measures questioned
The ADC said the timing of the proposed cash support cast doubt on the government’s motives. It maintained that the plan was prompted by opposition campaign commitments, rather than by a sustained effort to ease pressure on households.
The party pointed to several earlier announcements by the government:
- A $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Intervention Fund announced in August;
- A fuel-price discount intended to last 30 days;
- Cheaper transport fares promised in states from October 1; and
- A N70,000 transport allowance for workers.
Abdullahi said these measures had largely failed to deliver visible benefits, and described the proposed N50,000 payment as another attempt to win public goodwill.
The ADC also questioned how far N50,000 could stretch at a time when food, transport, petrol and essential medicines have all become more expensive.
“What is N50,000 actually meant to purchase in Tinubu’s Nigeria today?” the statement said. “How much food can a household buy with it? How much transportation can it pay for, and for what period?”
Call for reforms and greater accountability
The opposition party said the proposed amount would not materially address the economic strain confronting most Nigerians, characterising it as “too little, too late.”
It accused the Tinubu government of poorly handling its economic reforms and disregarding warnings that the policies would impose severe hardship on citizens. The ADC argued that protections for vulnerable people should have been built into the reform programme from the outset, rather than being introduced near an election period.
“If the government can provide N50,000 for vulnerable Nigerians, why was this not included in the reform strategy from the first day instead of being presented as an election-season handout?” the party said.
The ADC further raised concerns over transparency in the use of public intervention funds, warning that the new scheme could create another avenue for public money to be diverted.
- The party cited Auditor-General findings involving billions of naira from past cash-transfer programmes that were allegedly not properly accounted for.
- It called on the Federal Government to state how earlier intervention funds were spent.
- It also demanded disclosure on whether anyone had been held responsible for alleged financial irregularities.
“How can a government that has not explained what became of previous intervention funds expect Nigerians to place confidence in another programme involving billions of naira?” the ADC said.
