ADC Prioritises Security, Social Welfare In Proposed Manifesto

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has given top attention to security reform, tax restructuring and social welfare in its proposed manifesto which was unveiled yesterday.

The proposals are contained in the interim report by a 50-member Policy and Manifesto Committee chaired by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. The committee was commissioned for the task by the party leadership last Month.

The report was presented to the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of ADC at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

A final draft of the report is expected to be adopted at the party’s national convention in April this year.

The report cited lapses in the justice system, especially delays in prosecution, which undermine efforts to curb kidnapping and banditry.

The committee proposed classifying such crimes as terrorism, alongside measures to ensure swift and credible justice to serve as a deterrent.

The committee, in its interim report, proposed changes to the tax system, including exempting subsistence income from taxation.

It also argued that many Nigerians already bear the cost of basic services such as electricity and security, and should not be further burdened.

The committee argued for a fair tax regime which shifts responsibility toward those with higher earning capacity, while protecting low-income earners.

It also made a case for a Social Protection Act to guarantee continuity of safety-net programmes across administrations in order to provide a better social welfare system.

It noted that this proposal would address the disruptions of interventions and institutionalise support for vulnerable groups.

ADC National Chairman, Mark, said the report moves ADC further up the ranks as a governing alternative ahead of the 2027 elections.

He commended the committee for its effort, saying the framework shows practical policy options rather than political rhetoric.

He said previous reforms in the country were poorly sequenced and lacked needed safeguards.

Mark said, “Policy must be useful, precise, and capable of delivering real impact.”

The former Senate President said the party is mindful of placing citizens at the centre of governance and public institutions, which he described as “democratic citizenship.”

He said, “These examples illustrate an important point. When we say we are committed to rescuing Nigeria, we are not just talking about politics.

The foundational philosophy of the African Democratic Congress is based on the ideology that Nigeria has a duty to provide leadership to Africa and the entire Black race, and the strong conviction that Nigeria can only fulfil this role by investing in the development and empowerment of the Nigerian people.”

He said the performance of the government should be measured by citizens’ welfare, security and economic opportunities.

“This would be the grundnorm from which all our elected officials at any level will derive their operating and governance principles. As I have repeatedly maintained, the ADC will not leave it to the discretion of any of its elected officials to decide what to do with power. Therefore, I encourage all those who seek to contest elections on the platform of the ADC to show keen interest in the work of this committee,” he said.

Mark said the interim report will be subjected to more consultations and refinement, noting that the committee will engage stakeholders across the six geopolitical zones to ensure the final manifesto reflects public input.

Earlier, Odigie-Oyegun said the report provides the foundation for a coherent policy direction, describing it as a governance framework rather than a list of promises.

He noted that 11 sub-committees reviewed key sectors and that institutional weaknesses were identified as a major constraint to national development.

“This framework is therefore not a catalogue of promises. It is a governing philosophy that an ADC government will adopt. It is built on the conviction that Nigeria’s crisis is not the absence of plans. Nigeria’s crisis is the failure of institutions to deliver for citizens. The task before us is therefore to rebuild state capability, strengthen the rule of law, expand productive capacity and ensure that an ADC government will work for the Nigerian people from day one” he said.

Going forward, the former APC national chairman said, the committee will focus on harmonising proposals, ensuring fiscal realism and defining implementation pathways, before producing a final manifesto.

He added that the document would outline a governance plan aimed at strengthening state capacity, improving the rule of law and expanding economic productivity.

The ADC said the final manifesto would serve as a binding framework for its elected officials at all levels.