The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s 90-day cost-of-living relief plan, arguing that its timeline would extend beyond the presidential election and leave Nigerians waiting for promised assistance after voting.
Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, made the criticism on Friday during a world press conference at the party’s secretariat on behalf of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Shaibu said the presidential election was 86 days away, meaning the government’s 90-day plan would run beyond election day. He questioned why the administration had waited until shortly before the poll to announce measures addressing the economic hardship Nigerians had experienced since Tinubu assumed office.
“After three and a half years of hardship, this government is asking families to carry another promise into the polling booth and wait for relief until the votes are counted,” he said.
Describing the initiative as “election bait”, Shaibu urged Nigerians to assess the administration based on its economic performance rather than promises made ahead of the election.
The government’s plan identifies five priorities: making food more affordable, harmonising taxes, completing key projects, removing investment bottlenecks and providing household support.
However, Shaibu argued that these were longstanding problems that should have been addressed earlier, pointing to rising food prices, higher transport costs, pressure on manufacturers and business closures.
He also faulted the government’s handling of petrol subsidy removal, saying measures to protect vulnerable households should have accompanied the reform. According to him, Nigerians were made to bear the immediate costs while being asked to wait for the benefits.
“A government cannot put a 90-day deadline on hunger, the cost-of-living crisis and insecurity and call it an economic policy,” he said.
Shaibu also questioned Tinubu’s planned visit to Kaduna to launch his re-election campaign, citing civilian casualties from military airstrikes, abductions, insecurity and natural disasters in the state.
He recalled the December 3, 2023, military drone strike on civilians attending a Maulud celebration in Tudun Biri, which killed at least 85 people. He also referred to a reported military airstrike in Giwa in September 2024 that allegedly killed at least 24 civilians.
The ADC campaign official further cited a September 2025 attack involving kidnappings in Kachia, as well as storms and flooding that affected communities across Kaduna State.
He challenged the President to explain what his administration had done for victims of the incidents and what measures it had taken to protect residents facing abductions.
Shaibu also disputed claims of fuel-price relief through a discount promotion introduced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on October 1.
He said he personally visited NNPC retail stations but was told that no discount was available, adding that he subsequently bought petrol at ₦1,405 per litre.
He challenged the national oil company to publish details of the promotion, including the number of motorists who benefited, participating stations and the volume of petrol sold at discounted prices.
Shaibu also questioned the reach of a reported ₦66-per-litre discount, noting that NNPC operates about 900 retail stations in a country with thousands of fuel outlets.
Turning to the government’s 90-day plan, he demanded specific implementation details for each of its five priorities.
On food affordability, he asked which costs would be reduced for farmers, transporters and traders, when consumers would begin to see lower prices in markets and how the government would sustain any reductions beyond the 90-day period.
He also demanded that the government publish details of its proposed tax harmonisation measures, identify projects scheduled for completion within 90 days and explain how it intended to remove barriers affecting manufacturers and investors.
Regarding household support, Shaibu called for disclosure of the eligibility criteria, payment amounts, commencement dates, funding arrangements and plans for beneficiaries after the initiative expires.
He raised further concerns about a registration form circulating under the name “Arise for Tinubu 2027”, which he said requested voter identification, bank details and phone numbers.
Shaibu demanded clarification on who was collecting the information, how it would be used and whether the exercise was connected to the proposed household support programme.
He insisted that Nigerians should not have to surrender sensitive personal information to a political group to access public relief. He also urged the government to explain how it would prevent personal data or public assistance from being misused for political
purposes.
Shaibu said Atiku had pledged to make Nigeria more affordable through disciplined public spending, targeted household assistance, lower costs of producing and transporting essential goods, and policies to help local manufacturers expand and create jobs.
He argued that the effectiveness of economic policies should be measured by their impact on household purchasing power rather than government announcements.
The ADC campaign council urged Nigerians to demand evidence that the proposed relief would reach households and remain effective beyond the election period.
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