Economy: Atiku dismisses Tinubu’s 90-day cost of living relief plan as ‘election bait’

*Former Nigerian Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 polls, describes President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s latest 90-day cost of living relief plan as an election bait, urging Nigerians to judge the administration by its economic record rather than promises announced ahead of next year’s General Elections

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Amid political campaigns for the 2027 General Elections in Nigeria, former Vice-President (Alhaji) Atiku Abubakar and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s latest 90-day cost of living (COL) relief plan as an “election bait”.

ConsumerConnect reports Alhaji Atiku pointedly accused the Tinubu administration of promising an economic relief initiative which deadline falls “after” Nigerian electorate have voted in next year’s elections.

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Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, levelled the allegation against the government at a world press conference held Friday, October 23, 2026, at the party’s secretariat, in Abuja, FCT.

Earlier, the Federal Government has announced a plan containing five priority areas as the kernel of the 90-day relief programme.

These the government noted include food affordability, tax harmonisation, completion of key projects, removal of investment bottlenecks and household support for Nigerians.

Dismissing the plan, Shaibu, however, said with the 2027 Presidential Election less than 86 days away, Tinubu’s 90-day plan would extend beyond election day, leaving Nigerians to wait for promised relief after casting their ballots.

According to him, the timing raised cogent questions about the Nigerian Government’s commitment to tackling the hardship which several  millions of the citizens have endured since Tinubu assumed office May 29, 2023.

He explained: “After three-and-a-half years of hardship, this government is asking families to carry another promise into the polling booths, and wait for relief until the votes are counted.”

Shaibu also described the initiative as “election bait”, urging Nigerians to judge the administration by its economic record rather than promises announced ahead of the next year’s polls.

Speaking directly to the five priority areas of the 90-day relief programme, Shaibu contended that these were longstanding problems the current administration should have addressed earlier.

He equally cited rising food prices, increasing transport costs, mounting pressure on manufacturers and business closures.

The Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council also tackled the government over its handling of petrol subsidy removal.

Measures to protect vulnerable households should have accompanied the reform, stated he.

Shaibu alleged the government imposed the immediate costs of the policy while asking Nigerians to wait for its promised benefits.

He averred: “A government cannot put a 90-day deadline on hunger, the cost-of-living crisis and insecurity and call it an economic policy.”

Besides, he queried President Tinubu’s visit to Kaduna at the weekend, for the launch of his re-election campaign.

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council Director of Strategic Communication cited the Northern state’s experience with civilian casualties from military airstrikes, abductions, insecurity and natural disasters in recent times.

Shaibu particularly, recalled the December 3, 2023, military drone strike on civilians attending a Maulud celebration in Tudun Biri, which killed at least 85 people.

He likewise referenced a reported military airstrike in Giwa, September 2024, that allegedly killed at least 24 civilians.

Shaibu equally referred to a September 2025 attack involving kidnappings in Kachia, alongside storms and flooding that affected communities across Kaduna State.

On fuel price 30-day discount

Narrating his personal experience, Shaibu challenged the government’s claims of N66 fuel-price relief through a discount promotion introduced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) since October 1 this year.

He said that he personally visited a number of NNPCL retail stations but was told that no discount was available.

The Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council claimed he subsequently, bought petrol at ₦1,405 per litre at an NNPCL retail outlet.

He challenged the state oil company to publish details of the promotion, including the number of motorists who benefited, the participating stations and the volume of petrol sold at discounted prices.

Shaibu as well questioned the reach of a reported ₦66 per litre discount.

NNPCL operates about 900 retail stations in a country with thousands of fuel outlets, he argued.

In regard to the 90-day relief plan, the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, therefore, demanded specific implementation details for each of the government’s five priority areas listed in the government’s relief plan.

On food affordability, for instance, Shaibu asked which costs would be reduced for farmers, transporters and traders, when consumers would begin to see lower market prices, and how the government would sustain any reductions beyond the 90-day period?

As regards household support, he urged the government to disclose eligibility criteria, payment amounts, commencement dates, funding arrangements and plans for beneficiaries after the initiative expires.

He further raised concerns about a reported registration form circulating under the name “Arise for Tinubu 2027”.

Shaibu queried why the said form requests voter identification, bank details, and phone numbers respectively.

Shaibu demanded clarification on who really is collecting the information, how it would be used, and whether the exercise, in any way, is connected to the government’s proposed household support programme for Nigerians.

He added that Alhaji Atiku has pledged to make Nigeria more affordable through disciplined public spending, targeted household assistance, lower costs of producing and transporting essential goods, and policies to help local manufacturers expand and create jobs.

He argued that economic policies should be measured by their impact on household purchasing power rather than government announcements.

The ADC campaign Council, therefore, urged Nigerians to demand evidence that the promised relief would reach households and remain effective beyond the election period.