The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s plan to introduce a N50,000 monthly cash relief for vulnerable Nigerians, describing the proposed intervention as an election gimmick aimed at regaining public goodwill ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s reaction followed the Federal Government’s October 30, 2026 announcement of the monthly cash relief, which is intended to provide financial support to vulnerable Nigerians amid the prevailing economic hardship.
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC questioned the timing of the announcement, alleging that the initiative was prompted by the party’s promise to reduce the cost of living and make life more affordable if elected into power.
The party claimed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had made several announcements on economic relief measures without delivering the expected results.
ADC cited the previously announced $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Intervention Fund, a 30-day fuel discount, cheaper transportation promised across states from October 1, and a N70,000 transportation allowance for workers.
According to Abdullahi, the latest N50,000 monthly relief is another intervention announced by the government in response to growing public dissatisfaction.
“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 the purchasing power of N50,000 under current economic conditions, asking how much food, transportation and essential medicines the amount could provide for an average Nigerian household.
It argued that the sharp rise in petrol prices, food costs and transportation fares had significantly reduced the value of household incomes, describing the proposed relief as inadequate.
The ADC further accused the administration of failing to address the underlying causes of poverty, arguing that the government should have incorporated support for vulnerable Nigerians into its economic reform plans from the beginning rather than announce cash assistance during an election season.
The opposition party also raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of previous social intervention programmes.
It cited findings by the Auditor-General concerning billions of naira in earlier cash transfer programmes that were allegedly not properly accounted for, asking whether those responsible had been held accountable.
The party warned that the latest intervention could create another avenue for the diversion of public funds if adequate accountability measures were not put in place.
“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 said.
The ADC maintained that addressing Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis required measures to restore citizens’ purchasing power and reduce the cost of food, energy and transportation rather than relying on cash payments.
