…Links FG’s social protection plan to Atiku’s production subsidy proposal
…Demands transparency on funding, beneficiaries, implementation
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s planned $1 billion social protection programme, saying the intervention is coming too late to restore Nigerians’ confidence after years of economic hardship.
The opposition party also linked the initiative to its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s proposal for targeted production subsidies, which it said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu previously rejected.
In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it welcomed genuine efforts to cushion the impact of economic hardship but questioned the timing, funding and accountability mechanisms surrounding the programme.
The party said Nigerians had endured sharp increases in food, transportation, energy and other essential costs for nearly three years, while businesses, particularly small and medium-scale enterprises, had struggled with rising operating expenses.
According to the ADC, the Federal Government had consistently argued that the immediate hardship caused by its economic reforms was necessary to achieve long-term benefits.
It therefore questioned why the government was only now introducing a major social protection programme, with the 2027 elections approaching.
“The question is simple: why now?” the party asked.
The ADC said if resources were available for a large-scale intervention, the government should explain why similar measures were not introduced earlier to prevent millions of Nigerians from falling deeper into hardship.
The party also demanded an explanation of what had changed in the government’s approach to economic management.
ADC links programme to Atiku’s proposal
The opposition party said its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had consistently advocated economic reforms accompanied by targeted measures to protect citizens and stimulate domestic production.
According to the ADC, Atiku’s proposal for targeted production subsidies was designed to reduce the cost of essential goods, support producers and strengthen local economic activity.
The party claimed that officials of the Tinubu administration had previously rejected the proposal while defending the removal of existing subsidy interventions.
“It is therefore striking that the government has now acknowledged the need for substantial intervention to protect Nigerians from the economic consequences of its reforms,” the ADC said.
It argued that the development reinforced its position that economic reforms could not be separated from the welfare of citizens.
“Reform without adequate protection for citizens is not sustainable economic management,” the party said.
Party demands details of past interventions
The ADC also demanded greater transparency over previous social intervention programmes implemented by the Federal Government.
It referenced a claim by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs that more than N600 billion had been disbursed through cash-transfer programmes over the past three years to more than 10 million households.
The party challenged the government to provide verifiable details of the beneficiaries, amounts disbursed, selection criteria and measurable impact of the programmes.
“How many beneficiaries received the funds? How were they identified? What mechanisms were used to prevent duplication, exclusion or diversion? What independent audits have been conducted?” the party asked.
According to the ADC, such questions were necessary because social intervention programmes involving public funds must be transparent, independently verifiable and subject to effective oversight.
The party urged the government to explain the safeguards that would be put in place to prevent the proposed $1 billion programme from suffering the alleged shortcomings of previous interventions.
It demanded clear eligibility criteria, a credible social register, transparent disbursement mechanisms and independent monitoring.
‘N40,000 payment needs explanation’
The ADC also raised concerns over reports that the new intervention could involve a payment of N40,000 per household.
It challenged the Federal Government to explain the basis for the proposed amount, the number of intended beneficiaries, the total cost of the programme and its duration.
The party warned that the political timing of the initiative could fuel public suspicion, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
According to the ADC, Nigerians need more than temporary financial relief.
“The people of Nigeria do not need temporary relief alone. They need an economy in which their incomes can purchase more, businesses can survive, farmers can produce profitably and families can afford basic necessities without depending permanently on government handouts,” the party said.
