The party, in a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the new poverty figures reflect the deepening hardship faced by millions of Nigerians since the removal of petrol subsidy
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the reported rise in Nigeria’s poverty rate to 63 per cent shows the administration’s policies have failed to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
The party, in a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the new poverty figures reflect the deepening hardship faced by millions of Nigerians since the removal of petrol subsidy.
ADC described the report as a damning verdict on the government’s economic approach, adding that many Nigerians are already feeling the effects in their daily lives.
According to the party, the increase in poverty only confirms the reality citizens across the country have been experiencing, including rising cost of living and declining purchasing power.
“The report, presented at a policy dialogue in Abuja on Thursday, indicated that poverty in Nigeria rose sharply from about 50 per cent before the subsidy removal to 63 per cent afterward, as higher fuel and transport costs spread through the economy and pushed up the prices of food, transportation and other basic necessities,” the statement read.
“This verdict reflects the real consequences of the APC government’s hasty removal of fuel subsidy without giving full consideration to how such a serious decision would impact the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.”
ADC also questioned the government’s earlier justification that funds saved from subsidy removal would be redirected to key sectors such as health and education.
“Government repeatedly said the removal of subsidy would allow more resources to be invested in critical sectors like health and education. However, three years later, none of these sectors appears to be better funded, and citizens have not seen any real benefit from the policy,” the statement added.
The party further cited independent surveys showing widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians about the current direction of the country.
According to ADC, about 93 per cent of Nigerians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction under President Tinubu.
It added that 88 per cent describe the national economy as bad, while 74 per cent say their personal living conditions are poor.
“These are not just numbers. They represent the voices of millions of Nigerians who are currently under intense economic pressure,” the party said.
The party also stated that many Nigerians now struggle to meet their basic needs, with households experiencing periods without essential items.
“There is also mounting evidence of widespread deprivation. A large majority of Nigerians report going without basic necessities such as food, clean water, medical care, cooking fuel and even cash income at different times during the past year.
“For millions of households, economic hardship is no longer a temporary difficulty, it has become a daily reality. This is what happens when government is more concerned with external validation than the well-being of its own people.”
ADC stressed that the success of any economic policy should be measured by how much it improves the lives of ordinary citizens and protects the most vulnerable members of society.
“The real test of any economic policy is whether it makes life better for the majority of citizens and protects the most vulnerable.
“On this score, the APC government has failed,” the party stated.
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