ADC Calls Out Tinubu Over N50,000 Cash Relief Plan

The African Democratic Congress has accused President Bola Tinubu of using the government's proposed N50,000 monthly cash relief as an election trick.

The party claims this plan is meant to win back support from the public ahead of the 2027 general election.

ADC described the announcement as a desperate move to regain trust from Nigerians unhappy with the government's economic policies. They questioned why the government waited for the election season to roll out this initiative.

In a statement released on Saturday, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC's National Publicity Secretary, said the cash relief plan came after the party's promise to address the rising cost of living and help restore people's purchasing power.

The party pointed out that the Tinubu administration has announced various relief measures since it took over. But they accused the government of failing to turn many of these promises into real help for ordinary Nigerians.

Abdullahi mentioned the proposed $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Intervention Fund announced in August, a 30-day fuel discount, cheaper transportation promised from October 1, and a N70,000 transportation allowance for workers.

He argued that the latest N50,000 cash relief seems more like a response to growing public anger rather than a well-thought-out social support plan.

"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 statement added.

"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," he said.

The party also questioned how much help the proposed N50,000 would truly provide. They pointed out that this amount would hardly help families facing rising food, transport, fuel, and healthcare costs.

"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 statement asked.

ADC argued that the government should have included targeted financial help in its economic reform plans from the start. They criticized the timing of the cash relief, as many Nigerians have already faced years of hardship.

The party accused the administration of poorly managing its economic reforms and ignoring warnings about the struggles that would come with the removal of the fuel subsidy and other changes.

They noted that the government spent a lot of time asking Nigerians to endure economic challenges. Now, with the next election around the corner, they are introducing financial help.

"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?" Abdullahi asked.

Beyond questioning the timing and adequacy of the proposed relief, the ADC raised concerns about how the government manages intervention funds.

They cited findings from the Auditor-General about previous cash transfer programs, claiming billions of naira could not be properly tracked under this administration.

Consequently, the ADC challenged the Federal Government to explain what happened to those funds and whether anyone involved in financial mismanagement had faced consequences.

"How can a government that has failed to explain what happened to its previous intervention funds expect Nigerians to trust it with another program involving billions of naira?" the party asked.

They warned that this new intervention could be another way to misuse public money if proper safeguards and monitoring are not established.

The ADC believes that solving Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis needs more than just occasional cash transfers. They insist that the government must focus on restoring purchasing power and cutting down the costs of food, energy, and transport.

This issue arises as political parties and their presidential candidates start to position themselves for the 2027 general election. The economy, rising living costs, and public welfare are expected to be hot topics in the upcoming campaign debates.

The Tinubu administration has defended its economic reforms as necessary steps to stabilize the economy and promote long-term growth. They have also announced various social intervention programs to ease the immediate impact on households.