ADC Faults Tinubu’s Economic Reforms Over Rising Cost of Living

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies, alleging that they have intensified the hardship facing millions of Nigerians and calling for more sustainable measures to improve living conditions.

Sabo Muhammad Nakudu, the ADC’s governorship candidate in Jigawa State, expressed the party’s concerns in a statement.

Nakudu argued that the economic policies introduced by the Tinubu administration since it assumed office on May 29, 2023, had made life increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens. He called for urgent and sustained interventions to address the rising cost of living and ease the financial pressure on households.

The ADC candidate attributed the country’s economic difficulties to the policies of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that Nigerians deserved improved living conditions and more effective measures to protect their welfare.

A major focus of his criticism was the Federal Government’s announcement of a temporary reduction in petrol prices. Nakudu described the one-month reduction as insufficient to provide meaningful and lasting relief, arguing that Nigerians needed policies capable of addressing the broader cost-of-living crisis rather than short-term price adjustments.

He also linked the temporary fuel price reduction to the proposal by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election, to restore fuel subsidy if elected. However, the claim that the price reduction was a response to political pressure remains Nakudu’s allegation.

Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal on May 29, 2023, marked a significant shift in the country’s economic policy. The decision was intended to reduce the financial burden of subsidising petrol and redirect public resources towards other priorities. However, the resulting adjustment in fuel prices has contributed to wider public concerns about transportation costs, food prices and household purchasing power.

The administration has defended its economic reforms, maintaining that they are necessary to strengthen economic stability, improve government revenue and establish the foundation for long-term prosperity.

In its October 2026 Nigeria Development Update, the World Bank reported that Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.2% in the first half of 2026, compared with 3.9% during the corresponding period in 2025. The institution also stressed the need for faster, more inclusive growth that creates jobs, reduces poverty and improves living standards.

These developments highlight the distinction between improvements in macroeconomic indicators and the economic realities experienced by individual households. While economic growth can strengthen national revenue and investment prospects, its broader benefits depend on whether it translates into affordable food, employment opportunities, reliable public services and improved purchasing power.

For many Nigerians, the central question remains how quickly economic reforms can produce tangible improvements in everyday life.

Nakudu urged citizens not to regard the temporary reduction in petrol prices as a permanent solution to the country’s economic challenges. He maintained that the ADC’s position was driven by the need to improve living conditions and address the wider concerns of ordinary Nigerians.

The latest criticism adds to the growing political debate over the Tinubu administration’s economic programme as political parties and other stakeholders assess its effects ahead of the 2027 general election.

For the Federal Government, the challenge is to sustain economic reforms while ensuring that their benefits reach households facing financial pressure. For opposition parties, the debate presents an opportunity to scrutinise government policies and offer alternative approaches to economic management.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of Nigeria’s economic policies will be judged not only by growth figures and government revenue but also by their impact on the daily lives of citizens.

Obaland magazine will continue to monitor developments surrounding Nigeria’s economic reforms, the cost of living and the policy decisions shaping the welfare of citizens.

The African Democratic Congress accuses President Tinubu’s economic policies of worsening hardship in Nigeria as the opposition calls for lasting relief from rising living costs.