The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has questioned the timing and implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s proposed 90-day cost-of-living relief plan, describing the initiative as “election bait” ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the campaign council of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, made the criticism on Friday, October 23, during a press conference at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.
Shaibu argued that the 90-day timeline would extend beyond the presidential election, which he said was 86 days away, raising questions about when Nigerians would begin to experience the benefits of the proposed intervention.
He urged voters to assess the Tinubu administration based on its economic record since assuming office in May 2023 rather than rely solely on new promises of relief.
The proposed plan identifies five priority areas: food affordability, tax harmonisation, completion of key infrastructure projects, removal of investment bottlenecks and household support.
However, the ADC campaign council maintained that these issues had affected households and businesses for an extended period and demanded clear details of how the government intended to address them within the proposed timeframe.
Campaign Council Demands Details of Relief Measures
On food affordability, Shaibu asked the government to explain which costs would be reduced for farmers, transporters and traders, when consumers could expect to see lower prices in markets, and how any reductions would be sustained after the 90-day period.
He also called for the publication of details of the proposed tax harmonisation measures, including the charges to be consolidated or removed.
On infrastructure, the campaign council demanded a list of projects expected to be completed within 90 days, alongside information on their locations, outstanding costs and anticipated completion dates.
Shaibu further questioned how the government intended to remove barriers affecting manufacturers and investors, arguing that businesses continued to face challenges associated with production costs, transportation and access to affordable financing.
The campaign council also sought clarification on the proposed household support programme, including eligibility requirements, payment amounts, commencement dates, funding arrangements and what would happen to beneficiaries after the initiative ended.
The demands come amid continuing concerns about poverty and the cost of living. TheDailyNewsHub previously reported on the International Monetary Fund’s call for targeted cash transfers for Nigeria’s poor, highlighting the importance of directing support towards vulnerable households.
ADC Criticises Handling of Fuel Costs
The campaign council also criticised the administration’s handling of petrol subsidy removal, arguing that adequate measures to protect vulnerable households should have accompanied the policy.
Shaibu said higher transport and production costs had placed additional pressure on households and businesses, making it necessary for the government to demonstrate how its proposed relief measures would translate into tangible improvements.
He also questioned the effectiveness of a fuel discount promotion reportedly introduced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) on October 1.
According to Shaibu, he visited NNPC retail stations where attendants allegedly told him that the discount was unavailable. He said he subsequently purchased petrol at ₦1,405 per litre.
The campaign council called on NNPC to publish information about the promotion, including participating stations, the number of motorists who benefited and the volume of petrol sold at discounted prices.
These claims were presented by the ADC campaign council and have not been independently established for this report.
Questions Raised Over Voter Data Collection
Shaibu also expressed concern about a registration form reportedly circulating under the name “Arise for Tinubu 2027”.
He alleged that the form requested voter identification details, bank information and telephone numbers, and asked who was collecting the information, how it would be used and whether the exercise was connected to the proposed household support programme.
The campaign council urged the government to clarify whether there was any link between the registration exercise and public assistance, and to explain what safeguards would prevent the misuse of citizens’ personal information.
No verified evidence establishing a connection between the reported registration form and the government’s proposed relief programme was presented in the reports reviewed.
Economic Relief Faces Test of Implementation
The dispute comes amid continued debate over how Nigeria can ease cost-of-living pressures while sustaining economic reforms.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group has argued that lowering production costs and improving productivity are important to achieving more sustainable price reductions. In a related report, TheDailyNewsHub examined the group’s call for lower business costs to help bring down inflation in Nigeria.
The government’s proposed 90-day programme will face scrutiny over its funding, delivery arrangements and ability to produce measurable results within the stated period.
For the ADC campaign council, the central concern is whether Nigerians will experience meaningful relief before the election or remain dependent on promises whose outcomes may only become apparent afterwards.
The Tinubu administration’s ability to demonstrate concrete progress across the five priority areas will be important in assessing the plan’s effectiveness. Ultimately, the impact on food prices, household purchasing power and business costs will matter more to many Nigerians than the announcement of a deadline alone.
Atiku’s campaign council has urged voters to judge the government by its record and to demand transparent details showing how the proposed intervention will work and who will benefit.