The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s announcement of a N50,000 monthly cash relief programme, describing it as an election gimmick rather than a genuine response to the economic hardship confronting millions of Nigerians.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of introducing the intervention out of political desperation, arguing that the timing suggests an attempt to regain public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The ADC said the announcement raises questions about the government's motives, particularly as the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have placed affordability and reducing the cost of living at the centre of their political agenda.

According to the party, the Federal Government has made several announcements about economic relief measures in recent months without, in its assessment, demonstrating sufficient progress in delivering meaningful benefits to Nigerians.

“President Tinubu is in full panic mode now. Since the ADC and our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have made affordability and reducing the cost of living the cardinal focus of our campaign, the government has been announcing one desperate intervention or another,” Abdullahi said.

He cited the August announcement of a $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Intervention Fund, a proposed 30-day fuel discount, the promise of cheaper transportation across states from October 1, and a N70,000 transportation allowance for workers.

The ADC argued that these announcements have not translated into the level of economic relief Nigerians were promised. It described the latest N50,000 monthly cash intervention as another announcement that must be judged by its actual implementation and impact on citizens.

ADC Questions Adequacy of N50,000 Cash Relief Amid Rising Cost of Living

The party also questioned the purchasing power of the proposed N50,000 payment, arguing that the amount would provide limited relief to households struggling with the rising costs of food, transportation, fuel and essential medicines.

The ADC maintained that the economic realities facing Nigerian families make it necessary to assess government interventions not by the amounts announced but by the tangible improvements they deliver to people's daily lives.

“What exactly is N50,000 supposed to buy in Tinubu’s Nigeria today? How much food can a family purchase with that amount? How much transport can it cover? And for how long?” the party asked.

It further argued that the sharp increase in petrol prices, alongside rising food and transportation costs, has significantly reduced household purchasing power.

According to the ADC, a cash payment of N50,000 cannot, on its own, address the structural economic challenges responsible for the hardship experienced by millions of Nigerians.

The party described the intervention as “too little, too late,” insisting that meaningful economic relief requires policies capable of reducing the cost of essential goods and services rather than temporary cash distributions.

ADC Faults Tinubu Government’s Economic Management

The ADC said the Tinubu administration had sufficient opportunity to anticipate the social consequences of its economic reforms and introduce measures to protect vulnerable households from the resulting pressures.

It accused the government of failing to adequately manage the implementation of its reforms, noting that concerns about their impact on the living conditions of Nigerians had been raised from the outset.

The party questioned why the government did not incorporate a structured cash-support programme into its economic reform plans from the beginning if it considered such payments necessary to protect vulnerable citizens.

“If they could give N50,000 to vulnerable Nigerians, why didn’t they factor it into reform plans from day one rather than make it an election-season handout?” the ADC asked.

It argued that the timing of the announcement raises questions about whether the government’s approach to social intervention is driven primarily by economic planning or emerging political considerations.

The party insisted that Nigerians should not have to endure prolonged economic hardship before receiving relief measures that could have been properly planned and implemented alongside the government's reforms.

ADC Raises Accountability Concerns Over Social Intervention Funds

Beyond questioning the adequacy of the proposed payment, the ADC expressed concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of public funds allocated to social intervention programmes.

The party warned that without proper oversight and transparent implementation mechanisms, the new initiative could face the same accountability challenges it says have characterised previous government interventions.

It specifically referenced findings attributed to a recent report by the Auditor-General concerning billions of naira allocated to previous cash-transfer programmes, which the party said could not be adequately accounted for.

The ADC questioned whether the government had taken any meaningful steps to address the issues raised in the report or hold those responsible accountable.

“What has happened to the findings of the Auditor-General concerning the billions of naira in previous cash transfers that could not be properly accounted for? Have those responsible been held accountable? How can a government that has failed to explain what happened to its previous intervention funds expect Nigerians to trust it with another programme involving billions of naira?” the party asked.

The ADC maintained that the Federal Government must provide clear answers on the management of previous intervention funds before asking Nigerians to trust another programme involving substantial public resources.

It warned that the latest initiative must not become another avenue for the diversion or misuse of public funds under the guise of poverty alleviation.

“At best, this is an election gimmick designed to deceive Nigerians into believing that a government which has neglected them for more than three years suddenly cares about their welfare. At worst, it could become another scheme to siphon public funds under the convenient cover of poverty alleviation,” the party stated.

ADC Advocates Lasting Solutions to Nigeria’s Cost-of-Living Crisis

The African Democratic Congress maintained that Nigeria's cost-of-living crisis requires sustainable economic solutions rather than what it described as temporary and politically timed cash interventions.

The party argued that the priority of any serious economic recovery programme should be to restore the purchasing power of Nigerians and make essential goods and services more affordable.

It identified reducing the cost of food, energy and transportation as critical measures needed to ease the pressure on households and businesses.

According to the ADC, meaningful economic recovery must go beyond announcing financial assistance to vulnerable citizens. It must address the underlying factors driving inflation, eroding disposable incomes and making basic necessities increasingly unaffordable.

The party reiterated its commitment to making affordability and the reduction of the cost of living central to its proposed economic direction, maintaining that Nigerians deserve sustainable improvements in their living conditions rather than temporary relief measures.

The ADC therefore called for greater transparency and accountability in the implementation of government social intervention programmes, insisting that public resources must be deployed in ways that deliver measurable benefits to Nigerians.