The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s newly announced $1 billion social protection programme, calling it a belated and politically timed response to the economic hardship Nigerians have endured under President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said Nigerians had spent three years grappling with soaring food, transport and energy costs while the government insisted there was no money for meaningful relief. 

The sudden availability of $1 billion as the 2027 elections approach, ADC argued, raises serious questions about timing, funding and intent.

The party linked the initiative to proposals earlier advanced by its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who has advocated targeted production subsidies to lower the cost of living. 

“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.

ADC demanded transparency on previous interventions, asking the government to account for more than ₦600 billion reportedly spent on cash transfers to over 10 million households in the past three years. 

It called for a clear list of beneficiaries, evidence of impact, and an explanation of the reliability of the social register being used.

The party was particularly critical of the proposed one-off ₦40,000 “shock-response payment” per family. It described the measure as inadequate and potentially designed 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 ₦40,000 per family, which it cynically tagged ‘shock-response payment’,” the statement said.

ADC also questioned the constitutional and administrative basis for First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu unveiling a Federal Government programme of this scale and value.

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