The presidential campaign council of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s 90-day cost-of-living relief plan, describing it as “election bait” and demanding details of how it will benefit Nigerians.
The council’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, stated the position on Friday during a world press conference at the party’s secretariat.
Shaibu questioned the timing of the initiative, arguing that with the presidential election 86 days away, the government’s 90-day implementation timeline would extend beyond election day.
“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.
He urged Nigerians to judge the administration by its economic record rather than promises announced ahead of the election.
ADC Questions Tinubu’s 90-Day Economic Plan
The Federal Government’s plan identifies five priorities: food affordability, tax harmonisation, completion of key projects, removal of investment bottlenecks and household support.
However, Shaibu argued that these were longstanding challenges that should have been addressed earlier, citing rising food and transport costs, pressure on manufacturers and business closures.
He also criticised the administration’s handling of petrol subsidy removal, arguing that measures to protect vulnerable households should have accompanied the reform.
According to him, Nigerians bore the immediate costs of the policy while being asked to wait for its benefits.
“A government cannot put a 90-day deadline on hunger, the cost-of-living crisis and insecurity and call it an economic policy,” Shaibu said.
Shaibu Questions Tinubu’s Planned Kaduna Visit
The ADC campaign official also questioned Tinubu’s planned visit to Kaduna State to launch his re-election campaign, citing incidents involving civilian casualties from military airstrikes, abductions, insecurity and natural disasters.
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 cited a reported military airstrike in Giwa in September 2024 that allegedly killed at least 24 civilians.
Shaibu further referred to reported kidnappings in Kachia in September 2025, alongside 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 had been introduced to protect residents from abductions.
ADC Demands Details of NNPC Fuel Discount
Shaibu also questioned claims of fuel-price relief through a discount promotion introduced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) on October 1.
He said he visited NNPC retail stations but was told that no discount was available. He added that he subsequently bought petrol at ₦1,405 per litre.
He called on the 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.
Five-Point Plan Faces Questions Over Implementation
Turning to the 90-day initiative, Shaibu demanded specific details on how the government intends to implement 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 market prices, and how any reductions would be sustained beyond the 90-day period.
He also called for the publication of the proposed tax harmonisation measures, a list of projects scheduled for completion within 90 days, and an explanation of how the government intends to remove barriers affecting manufacturers and investors.
Regarding household support, Shaibu demanded disclosure of the eligibility criteria, payment amounts, commencement dates, funding arrangements and plans for beneficiaries after the initiative expires.
Shaibu Raises Concerns Over ‘Arise for Tinubu 2027’ Form
The ADC campaign official also raised concerns about a registration form circulating under the name “Arise for Tinubu 2027”.
He said the form requested voter identification, bank details and phone numbers, and questioned who was collecting the information, how it would be used and whether the exercise was connected to the proposed household support programme.
Shaibu insisted that Nigerians should not have to surrender sensitive personal information to a political group to access public relief.
He urged the government to explain how it would prevent the misuse of personal data or public assistance for political purposes.
Atiku’s Alternative Economic Proposals
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 economic policies should be judged by their impact on household purchasing power rather than government announcements.
The ADC campaign council urged Nigerians to demand evidence that the promised relief would reach households and remain effective beyond the election period.
Chronicle NG reports that the council’s demands centre on the timing, implementation and accountability of the Federal Government’s proposed 90-day cost-of-living relief plan.
