Atiku Abubakar Slams Nigeria's N70,000 Transport Allowance for Workers
Atiku Abubakar criticized the Nigerian government's N70,000 transport allowance for public sector workers as an inadequate response to a national cost-of-living crisis.
Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar condemned the Federal Government of Nigeria's proposal to provide a ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for public sector workers starting in November. Abubakar characterized the measure as a desperate attempt to contain public anger and an inadequate response to a broader cost-of-living crisis affecting food, energy, and rent.
He argued that the allowance is insufficient, noting that at ₦1,400 per litre, the payment only covers roughly 50 litres of petrol per month. Abubakar specifically criticized the exclusion of private sector workers, the unemployed, and those in the informal economy from the relief. He accused the administration of Bola Tinubu of using temporary palliatives to mask the effects of reckless economic policies and the hasty removal of fuel subsidies.
As an alternative to the monthly payments, Abubakar proposed a transparently managed production subsidy for fuel refined within Nigeria to lower pump prices permanently. He urged the government to implement long-term economic reforms to increase household incomes and called for transparent details regarding the implementation of the new minimum wage.
