‘This is cruelty’ – ADC criticises FG’s $1bn social protection programme

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s $1 billion social protection programme, describing it as a late response to the hardship Nigerians have faced under President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.

The party said Nigerians had struggled with rising food, transport and energy costs for three years, while the government was now introducing a major intervention as the 2027 elections approached.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC questioned how the programme would be funded, managed and monitored.

The party said its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had earlier proposed targeted production subsidies to reduce the cost of living, but that the government rejected the idea.

“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,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC also asked the government to explain how more than N600 billion reportedly spent on cash transfers to over 10 million households in the last three years had been used.

It demanded details of the beneficiaries and evidence showing the impact of the payments. The party also questioned the reliability of the social register used for the programme.

The opposition party further raised concerns over the proposed N40,000 “shock-response payment”, saying it could be used to influence voters ahead of the 2027 elections.

“A government whose so-called reform has destroyed purchasing power through higher food, fuel, transport and energy costs, cannot now return with a one-off N40,000 per family, which it cynically tagged ‘shock-response payment’,” ADC said.

The party also questioned the constitutional and administrative basis for the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to unveil a Federal Government programme involving $1 billion.

While supporting genuine efforts to assist vulnerable Nigerians, the ADC said temporary relief measures could not replace policies that would improve purchasing power, increase production and restore citizens’ dignity.

“If the Tinubu administration has suddenly discovered that Nigerians need protection from the cost of its failed reforms, then perhaps the first thing it should do is admit that Atiku was right: reform without relief is not courage; it is cruelty,” the party said.