2027: Tinubu’s $1bn Social Fund Reaction To Atiku’s Subsidy Plan — ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the Federal Government’s announcement of a $1 billion social protection programme as a panic reaction to the proposal by its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to introduce targeted production subsidies to reduce the cost of living if elected in 2027.

The party accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of impoverishing millions of Nigerians through what it described as failed economic policies, alleging that the government was now attempting to “buy them back” with a hastily introduced palliative programme ahead of the elections.

The ADC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Thursday also questioned the source of the $1 billion, asking why the government had allegedly taken three years to respond to the hardship faced by Nigerians.

It further demanded clarification on the funding and implementation of the programme, particularly the role of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in its launch.

The party said the sudden announcement of the social protection programme was remarkable, given what it described as the prolonged hardship Nigerians had experienced as a result of rising food and transport prices and declining purchasing power.

“For three years, Nigerians have cried under the weight of food prices, transport costs and collapsing purchasing power, while this government insisted that there was no money to cushion the effects of its reforms.

“Now that elections are approaching, it has suddenly found $1 billion for the poor. If the government could somehow conjure up this money, why did it remain indifferent to the suffering of Nigerians for three years? Or did the poor only become visible when their votes become valuable?” the party asked.

The ADC said the government’s acknowledgement that Nigerians needed protection from the effects of its economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, reinforced Atiku’s argument for targeted production subsidies.

According to the party, while the Tinubu administration had previously dismissed Atiku’s proposal, it had now introduced a major social intervention programme to cushion the effects of the same economic policies.

The ADC said Nigerians would not forget the impact of the government’s reforms, which it claimed had worsened food, fuel, transport and energy costs, weakened purchasing power and increased economic hardship.

It also questioned the accountability of previous social intervention programmes, citing the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs’ claim that more than N600 billion had been disbursed in cash transfers over three years to slightly more than 10 million households.

The party asked for evidence of the beneficiaries and measurable impact of the funds, as well as independent verification of the figures.

It also expressed concern over the management of social intervention programmes, alleging that the absence of a robust and verifiable social register and corruption had undermined previous initiatives.

According to the ADC, the government had not explained what would be done differently under the new $1 billion programme.

The party further questioned the proposed N40,000 “shock-response payment” to families, describing it as potentially a vote-buying scheme ahead of the 2027 elections.

“This makes one to wonder if this is not indeed a vote-buying programme,” the party said.

The ADC also demanded clarification on the constitutional and administrative role of the First Lady in the programme.

“Which makes us to ask: What is the role of the First Lady in this programme? How come she is the one launching the Federal Government’s ‘social intervention programme’?” it asked.

The party said while there was nothing unusual about a president’s wife supporting humanitarian causes or running personal initiatives, it was concerned about an unelected individual unveiling a Federal Government programme involving $1 billion in public funds.

It therefore asked whether the initiative was a Federal Government programme or a project of the First Lady, and demanded details of its funding source, approval process, budget head, accounting authority and disbursement arrangements.

The ADC also asked which public institution would be responsible for accounting for the funds and responding to the Auditor-General and the National Assembly.

“If these are public funds, what statutory authority does the Office of the First Lady have over them, if any?” the party asked.

The party, however, said it supported genuine efforts to protect vulnerable Nigerians, but argued that palliatives could not substitute for policies capable of restoring purchasing power and increasing production.

It said the choice before Nigerians in 2027 was increasingly becoming one between a government focused on managing poverty and an alternative committed to restoring purchasing power, production and 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 ADC said.