ADC Demands Account of N15.8tn Gains From Tinubu’s Subsidy Removal

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to account for the N15.8 trillion in additional resources it says accrued to the Federation following the removal of petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms.

The opposition party said the government must explain what Nigerians have gained from the increased revenues before asking them to endure further hardship in the name of economic reforms.

The ADC’s position followed comments by Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, Director-General of President Tinubu’s re-election campaign, on the administration’s economic policies and prospects for the 2027 election.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said Yari’s comments were significant because of his role in convincing Nigerians to give Tinubu another four-year term.

The ADC said figures attributed to the Minister of Finance showed that the removal of petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms generated about N15.8 trillion in additional resources for the Federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

Of the amount, the party said, about N5.4 trillion accrued to the Federal Government, another N5.4 trillion went to states, while N3.9 trillion was allocated to local governments.

The party also cited figures showing that states received about N47.25 trillion in allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between 2023 and 2025.

It said state allocations rose from N10.09 trillion in 2023 to N15.26 trillion in 2024 and N21.90 trillion in 2025.

The ADC argued that despite the increase in government revenues and monthly FAAC distributions, which it said had crossed N2 trillion compared with less than N1 trillion before the subsidy removal, Nigerians were facing worsening economic conditions.

“Government is counting trillions while Nigerian families are counting the meals they can afford. If governments are receiving substantially more money, why are Nigerians getting substantially less food to eat?” the party asked.

It said petrol prices had risen from about N185 per litre in May 2023 to more than N1,300 in many parts of the country by August 2025, while food inflation had at some point exceeded 40 per cent.

According to the party, higher fuel prices have also pushed up transport costs, while the promised compressed natural gas mass-transit alternative has not been deployed on the scale required to provide relief.

The ADC therefore asked the President’s campaign team to explain whether Nigerians were better off after what it described as three years of unprecedented sacrifice.

“Before asking Nigerians for four more years, Senator Yari and the APC must answer one question: after N15.8 trillion in additional resources, record FAAC allocations and three years of unprecedented sacrifice, are Nigerians better off?” it said.

The opposition party also questioned the borrowing activities of state governments despite the rise in their monthly allocations.

It cited reports that about 20 states borrowed N458 billion in 2025 and demanded an account of how the additional revenues had been spent.

“After N47.25 trillion to states in three years, Nigerians have a right to ask: where are the results?” the ADC said.

“If states received an additional N5.4 trillion from the reforms, let the government publish the projects. Show Nigerians the schools, hospitals, roads, and mass-transit systems that their sacrifice paid for.”

The party said it was particularly concerned that the increased revenues had not translated into significant improvements in living standards.

It criticised the government for highlighting the payment of workers’ salaries as a major achievement while, according to the party, many families still struggle to afford basic food.

The ADC also alleged that government budgets remained under-implemented, local contractors were owed and major roads had deteriorated, while insecurity continued to affect communities across the country.

It said the administration could not continue to tell Nigerians that its economic reforms were working without providing evidence of tangible improvements in their lives.

The party also challenged Tinubu’s re-election campaign to explain what it intends to do to reduce the cost of petrol, food and transportation before the 2027 elections.

“If Senator Yari says subsidy can never return, then he must tell Nigerians what the President’s campaign is offering instead,” the ADC said.

“What is the plan to dramatically reduce petrol prices and bring down food and transportation costs before 2027? ‘Endure’ is not an economic policy.”

The ADC clarified that it was not calling for a return to the former petrol subsidy system, which it described as being associated with corruption and a lack of transparency.

Instead, the party said it favoured greater investment in domestic refining and targeted, transparent support designed to reduce fuel prices and ease the cost of living.

It said the 2027 election would ultimately be judged by the ability of political parties to offer practical solutions to the country’s economic and security challenges.

“The 2027 election will not be about who shouted ‘liar’ the loudest. It will be about who can put food on Nigerians’ tables, create jobs, provide security, and reduce the cost of living,” the ADC said.

“Nigerians have sacrificed enough. They need a break.”