Atiku’s Subsidy Plan Prompted Tinubu’s $1bn Social Protection Fund, ADC Claims

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed the Federal Government’s proposed $1 billion social protection program as a reaction to its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s plan for a targeted production subsidy to ease Nigeria’s rising cost of living.

The opposition party said the program was unveiled 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 by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Thursday, August 27, asked why the government did not provide similar support when Nigerians were struggling 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. Now that elections are coming up, it has suddenly found $1 billion for the poor.”

The Federal Government launched the social protection program which was unveiled by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.

The ADC contended that the initiative was an admission that the administration’s economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy, had worsened hardship for millions of Nigerians.

The party said Atiku had already proposed a targeted production subsidy as part of his plan to reduce the cost of living but government officials dismissed the idea of subsidies.

“This is exactly what our Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has been saying proposing a targeted production subsidy to reduce the cost of living,” the ADC said.

“That proposal was rejected by the government and its officials told Nigerians that subsidy in whatever 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 questioned the administration’s management of previous social intervention funds, citing the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs’ statement that the government had paid out more than ₦600 billion in cash transfers to over 10 million households in the past three years.

What evidence is there of actual beneficiaries and what measurable impact did that N600 billion have? the party asked.

“Has anyone ever checked if these numbers are really true?

The ADC further queried the reported ₦40,000 “shock-response payment” for families, saying the timing and political purpose of the program needed to be scrutinized.

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A government whose so-called reform has destroyed purchasing power through higher food, fuel, transport and energy costs, cannot now come back with a one-off ₦40,000 per family which it cynically tagged ‘shock-response payment.’ One wonders if this is actually a vote-buying program.

The opposition party also asked for clarification on the role of the First Lady in unveiling the program and urged the Federal Government to reveal the source of the $1 billion fund, the institution charged with its management and the process of approval behind it.

“One billion dollars is public business and public business should have transparency,” said the party.

“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 true option facing Nigerians is becoming clearer by the day: between a government that is comfortable managing poverty and an alternative that is committed to restoring purchasing power, production and dignity,” the statement continued.

The party said the new social protection program showed that the government had finally recognized the need to protect citizens from the impact of its 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 to admit that Atiku was right: reform without relief is not courage; it is cruelty,” said the ADC.