ADC Demands Pivot in Economic Policy or Presidential Resignation Amid Rising Cost of Living

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to reassess his administration’s economic direction or step down, citing a severe rise in poverty and food insecurity across Nigeria. In a statement issued by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party argued that recent data highlighting widespread financial hardship demonstrates the failure of current macroeconomic reforms to protect vulnerable citizens.

The ADC contended that positive economic metrics such as increased government revenue and growing foreign exchange reserves hold little value if they do not translate into better living conditions for ordinary Nigerians. The party accused the administration of pursuing aggressive fiscal policies without adequate safeguards, describing the current situation as a direct consequence of federal economic strategy. Furthermore, the opposition dismissed the government’s existing social intervention efforts, such as palliatives and cash transfers, as temporary fixes that fail to address root causes. The party maintained that poverty cannot be defeated through palliatives, but rather by building an economy that enables citizens to produce more food, earn decent incomes, and live with dignity.

Outlining its own alternative framework, the ADC promised that a different leadership approach would focus on structural agricultural and social reforms. These measures include securing farming communities to restore agricultural productivity, rehabilitating hundreds of abandoned dams to boost year-round irrigation, and improving access to high-quality farming inputs. The party also pledged to strengthen agro-processing to lower food costs and expand public spending on healthcare, nutrition, education, and skills development.

This friction highlights an ongoing national debate regarding major economic measures introduced since mid-2023, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, tax adjustments, and the liberalisation of the exchange rate. The Federal Government has consistently defended these choices, maintaining that the structural reforms are vital for long-term economic stability. Officials point to rising public revenue, improved investor confidence, and stabilizing market pressures as early signs of recovery. To help citizens navigate the transition, the state has launched several initiatives, including student loans, consumer credit facilities, and agricultural grants. Nevertheless, opposition parties, labor unions, and civil society groups continue to argue that the immediate impact has severely diminished household purchasing power and aggravated the country’s cost-of-living crisis.