ADC links Tinubu’s $1bn social protection fund to Atiku’s subsidy proposal

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the Federal Government’s newly launched $1 billion Household Prosperity and Economic Social Protection Project (HOPE-SP) is an attempt to respond to a proposal earlier made by its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on targeted subsidies.

The opposition party said the initiative, unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday, came after Nigerians had endured prolonged increases in food, transportation and energy costs following the government’s economic reforms.

Atiku, a former vice-president, had recently proposed the restoration of petrol subsidy under a different framework if elected president in 2027. His proposal involves a targeted and capped production subsidy that would be transparently budgeted and independently audited to support domestic refining and production.

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In a statement issued on Thursday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the HOPE-SP programme appeared to be the government’s response to the economic hardship associated with its reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Federal Government has presented HOPE-SP as a move away from temporary palliatives towards longer-term measures designed to promote economic recovery, empowerment and self-reliance.

The programme, themed ‘From palliatives to pathways,’ is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s social protection and humanitarian response systems, including better identification and targeting of vulnerable household

First Lady and Special Guest of Honour at the launch, Ms Remi Tinubu, said the initiative would improve support for vulnerable Nigerians, strengthen coordination among humanitarian and poverty-reduction programmes, provide assistance during economic shocks and enhance accountability.

ADC challenges timing of intervention

Abdullahi, however, questioned why the government was introducing the $1 billion intervention after three years of rising living costs.

He argued that the administration’s economic policies had worsened the financial pressure on households before the government moved to establish a major social protection programme.

“For three years, Nigerians have cried under the weight of food prices, transport costs and collapsing purchasing power, while this government insisted that there was no money to cushion the effects of its reforms,” he said.

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The ADC spokesperson argued that the programme effectively demonstrated that government recognised the need to shield Nigerians from the consequences of its economic policies, including the removal of petrol subsidy.

He said this position was consistent with Atiku’s proposal for a targeted production subsidy designed to reduce the pressure of rising costs.

According to Abdullahi, the government had previously rejected Atiku’s proposal and maintained that subsidy in any form was not feasible, making the subsequent announcement of the $1 billion social protection initiative questionable.

Opposition raises questions over funding

The ADC also raised concerns about the structure and financing of HOPE-SP, particularly the involvement of the first lady in the programme’s launchs

Abdullahi said although there was nothing unusual about the president’s wife supporting humanitarian initiatives, the scale of the programme requires clarity because it involves $1 billion in public resources.

He questioned whether HOPE-SP was strictly a Federal Government programme, who was financing it, the budgetary or financing arrangement under which the funds were approved, and which institution would be responsible for accounting for the money.

The opposition party also sought clarification on who would control the disbursement of the funds, arguing that expenditure of public resources must follow established legal and accountability procedures.

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Abdullahi further questioned the proposed one-off N40,000 ‘shock-response payment,’ asking whether the intervention could amount to a vote-buying mechanism ahead of the 2027 elections.

The ADC’s criticism places the newly launched social protection programme at the centre of an emerging political debate over how best to cushion Nigerians from the consequences of economic reforms, with the opposition linking the government’s intervention to its own proposals on targeted subsidies.