The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the Federal Government’s proposed $1 billion social protection program as a response to its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s plan for a targeted production subsidy to ease the rising cost of living in the country.
The opposition party said the program came three years into the economic hardship under President Bola Tinubu’s administration and as the country moved closer to the elections.
The ADC, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Thursday, August 27, wondered why the government did not provide similar support when Nigerians were grappling with food and transport prices and declining purchasing power.
“We find this sudden discovery of compassion, and money, quite remarkable,” the party said.
“Three years Nigerians have been crying under the weight of food prices, transport costs and collapsing purchasing power, while this government has insisted that there was no money to cushion the effects of its reforms. “Suddenly, with elections around the corner, it has found a billion dollars for the poor.”
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu unveiled the social protection program inaugurated by the Federal Government.
The ADC said the move was an admission that the administration’s economic policies, including the removal of the fuel subsidy, had worsened the hardship being faced by millions of Nigerians.
The party said Atiku had already suggested a focused production subsidy as part of his plan to reduce the cost of living but government officials dismissed the idea of subsidies.
“This is precisely what our Presidential Candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been saying, proposing a targeted production subsidy to reduce the cost of living,” ADC said.
“The government turned down that proposal and its officials told Nigerians that subsidy in any shape or form was impossible. But almost immediately it announced a billion-dollar program to support Nigerians from the consequences of its evil policies.”
The party also attacked the management of previous social intervention funds by the administration citing the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs’ statement that the government paid out over ₦600 billion in cash transfers to over 10 million households in the last three years.
The party queried: “What evidence is there of real beneficiaries and what measurable impact did that N600 billion have?
“Has anyone ever checked whether these numbers are actually true?”
The ADC also asked about the reported N40,000 “shock-response payment” for families and said the timing and political purpose of the program should be examined.
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A government whose so-called reform has destroyed purchasing power through higher food, fuel, transport and energy costs cannot now return with a one-off ₦40,000 per family which it cynically tagged ‘shock-response payment.’ This makes one wonder if this is indeed a vote-buying program.
The opposition party also demanded explanations on the role of the First Lady in unveiling the program and urged the Federal Government to reveal the source of the $1billion fund, the institution charged with its management and the process of approval behind it.
“One billion dollars is public business and public business requires transparency,” the party said.
“We support genuine efforts to assist vulnerable Nigerians, but the government should pursue policies that increase production, restore purchasing power and improve living conditions rather than relying on palliatives,” the ADC said.
“The real choice for Nigerians is becoming clearer by the day: between a government that is comfortable with managing poverty and an alternative that is determined to restore purchasing power, production and dignity,” the statement continued.
The party said the new social protection program showed the government had finally recognized the need to protect citizens from the impact of its own economic reforms.
“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 added.
