The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s planned N50,000 monthly cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians, describing the intervention as an election gimmick ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The opposition party alleged that the announcement was an attempt by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to regain public support amid growing concerns over the rising cost of living.
In a statement on Saturday, October 31, 2026, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, questioned the timing of the intervention, accusing the government of reacting to the party’s campaign promise to make life more affordable for Nigerians.
“President Tinubu is in full panic mode now. Since the ADC and our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have made affordability and reducing the cost of living the cardinal focus of our campaign, the government has been announcing one desperate intervention or another,” Abdullahi said.
The Federal Government announced the proposed N50,000 monthly payments on Friday through Bernard Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
The initiative, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is designed to provide financial assistance to selected vulnerable households struggling with rising living costs.
ADC questions Tinubu government’s relief measures
Abdullahi recalled previous government announcements, including the proposed $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Intervention Fund, a 30-day fuel discount, cheaper transportation across states from October 1 and a N70,000 transportation allowance for workers.
He alleged that these interventions had failed to deliver meaningful relief to Nigerians.
The ADC spokesperson also questioned the purchasing power of the proposed N50,000 payment, arguing that it would offer limited assistance to households facing rising food, transportation, fuel and healthcare costs.
“How much food can a family purchase with that amount?” he queried.
“How much transport can it cover? And for how long? Petrol prices have risen roughly sevenfold. Food and transportation costs have followed, not to talk of the cost of basic drugs.”
He described the proposed payment as an attempt to regain public goodwill, adding that the intervention was insufficient to address the country’s economic difficulties.
Party raises concerns over previous cash transfers
The opposition party further questioned why the Tinubu administration had not incorporated adequate financial support for vulnerable Nigerians into its economic reform plans from the beginning.
Abdullahi also cited a recent Auditor-General’s report which reportedly found insufficient evidence that N33.75 billion allocated for 3.29 million vulnerable households in 2023 reached genuine beneficiaries.
He challenged the government to explain what happened to the funds and whether those responsible for any irregularities had been held accountable.
The ADC warned that the latest intervention could create another avenue for the diversion of public funds if adequate accountability measures were not established.
“At best, this is an election gimmick designed to deceive Nigerians into believing that a government which has neglected them for more than three years suddenly cares about their welfare.
“At worst, it could become another scheme to siphon public funds under the convenient cover of poverty alleviation,” Abdullahi said.
ADC demands lasting solutions to rising living costs
The party maintained that temporary cash transfers would not address the underlying causes of Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis.
It called for policies that would restore citizens’ purchasing power and reduce the cost of essential commodities, particularly food, energy and transportation.
The ADC’s criticism comes as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with economic hardship and the rising cost of living expected to feature prominently in political debates.
