Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s proposed 90-day action plan to address Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis, describing the initiative as an election-driven move that offers temporary promises rather than lasting solutions to the economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), argued that the government’s latest intervention came after prolonged complaints about rising food prices, transportation costs, fuel prices and declining purchasing power among households.
The criticism followed the National Economic Council’s approval of a 90-day action plan aimed at easing the cost of living, improving food affordability and attracting investment. The initiative is expected to involve collaboration between federal and state governments.
Atiku questioned the timing of the plan, arguing that Nigerians had endured significant economic hardship under the Tinubu administration and deserved sustainable measures that would improve their living conditions beyond a short-term intervention.
The former vice-president has repeatedly accused the Federal Government of failing to translate its economic reforms into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens. He has maintained that rising prices and pressure on household incomes continue to make essential goods and services difficult for many Nigerians to afford.
He has also criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy and the government’s foreign exchange reforms, arguing that their effects have contributed to increased transportation expenses, higher food prices and rising operating costs for businesses.
Atiku has called for policies that directly address the cost of production and distribution, improve household purchasing power and provide relief to vulnerable Nigerians.
He has previously advocated a targeted production-support programme for petroleum products refined locally, arguing that such an approach could reduce fuel prices while supporting domestic refining and creating jobs. He has also proposed that any government intervention should have clear budgetary limits, independent audits and transparent reporting to ensure that the benefits reach consumers.
The ADC presidential candidate has maintained that temporary relief measures cannot substitute for a comprehensive economic strategy capable of addressing the underlying causes of the cost-of-living crisis.
The Federal Government’s 90-day plan is intended to bring federal and state authorities together to implement measures aimed at improving food affordability and encouraging investment.
The development comes as political parties intensify preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the economy and the cost of living expected to remain prominent issues in political debates.
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