Group Knocks ADC Over Subsidy Claims, Backs Tinubu’s Economic Reforms

Group Knocks ADC Over Subsidy Claims, Backs Tinubu’s Economic Reforms

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

The Democratic Front (TDF) has faulted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its criticism of the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the opposition’s position does not reflect the current realities of the Nigerian economy.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, the group said the ADC’s assessment was “grossly flawed” and based on a misinterpretation of available data.

TDF argued that the opposition party ignored the fragile state of the economy prior to the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, stressing that the policy decision was necessary to stabilise public finances.

According to the group, the ADC also took a report by Agora Policy out of context, focusing only on the immediate challenges while overlooking what it described as ongoing improvements across key sectors.

“ADC’s inquest into the savings from fuel subsidy removal is mischievous and myopic,” the statement said, adding that subsidy savings are already translating into higher disbursements from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and increased investments in infrastructure and social programmes.

The group maintained that before the subsidy removal, many state governments struggled to meet basic obligations, including payment of salaries and the national minimum wage, while debts to contractors piled up.

It said the current administration has since recorded progress in areas such as agriculture, non-oil exports, solid minerals development, industrial growth, job creation and healthcare, alongside various social intervention programmes.

TDF also accused the ADC of playing politics with facts, noting that key figures previously associated with the party, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, had at different times supported the removal of fuel subsidy and advocated market-driven reforms.

The group concluded by urging the opposition to engage constructively rather than promote what it described as misleading narratives about government policies.