ADC Calls Tinubu's N50,000 Cash Transfer an Election Gimmick

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the Nigerian federal government's announcement of N50,000 monthly cash transfers to vulnerable households, labeling the initiative an election gimmick ahead of the 2027 polls. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Bernard Doro introduced the payments under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) to mitigate rising living costs.

National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi characterized the move as a desperate attempt by President Bola Tinubu to regain public goodwill. The ADC argues the administration is acting out of panic because the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have made affordability and the cost of living central pillars of their campaign. The party further claimed the payment amount is insufficient given the surge in food and petrol prices.

Transparency concerns remain a primary point of contention for the ADC, which cited a previous auditor-general's report finding insufficient evidence that N33.75 billion in 2023 reached intended beneficiaries. The party warned the new scheme could become another method to siphon public funds. In response, the Tinubu administration maintains that its economic reforms are necessary for long-term stability and that social interventions are intended to cushion the immediate impact on households.