The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government’s N70,000 monthly transport allowance for public service workers.
He described the wage as a desperate attempt by President Bola Tinubu-led government to contain public anger over the rising cost of living.
Atiku said the intervention showed that the government’s policies had made life unbearable for millions of Nigerians, and argued that temporary financial support would not address the broader economic hardship facing households and businesses.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the government was responding to the crisis with repeated announcements instead of addressing its underlying causes.
“The Tinubu administration is scrambling from one announcement to another, showing its failure to grasp the crisis. The cost of living crisis reaches beyond transport: energy, food, rent and other essentials affect every part of daily life,” he said.
He noted that rising operating costs had affected businesses and households, citing higher electricity costs for barbers, increased cooking expenses for restaurant owners and rising fuel costs for school bus operators.
Atiku questioned why the intervention was limited to public service workers, asking what would happen to private sector employees, traders, small businesses, transport operators and millions of Nigerians without formal employment.
“The public workforce is only a fraction of Nigeria’s population. A temporary allowance for some cannot solve a national crisis,” he said.
The former vice-president also faulted the government for failing to agree on the effective date for implementing a new minimum wage, urging it to publish payment schedules, clarify eligibility for the transport allowance and conclude wage negotiations.
He described the six-month intervention as inadequate, arguing that the amount would buy only about 50 litres of petrol at an estimated price of N1,400 per litre.
“What meaningful difference can 50 litres make over an entire month?” he asked.
Atiku also criticised the government’s previous cost-of-living interventions, including the fuel discount initiative and the 90-day cost-of-living plan, which he said had failed to provide meaningful relief.
He further accused the government of failing to deliver on its promise that compressed natural gas (CNG) would reduce transportation costs, describing the programme as a failed promise while Nigerians continued to face high commuting expenses.
“These rushed announcements smack of political bribery and corruption. Tinubu has shown no genuine intention of clearing the monumental mess caused by his hasty subsidy removal,” Atiku said.
He proposed a transparently managed production subsidy for fuel refined in Nigeria as an alternative, arguing that it would provide relief at petrol stations.
Atiku said the government should not make Nigerians bear the consequences of corruption and financial leakages, adding that the country needed lasting measures to reduce living costs and improve household incomes.
“Nigerians need lasting relief, decent wages and an economy that rewards honest work. When will life become affordable again?” he asked.
Atiku said his campaign would pursue measures to lower living costs, increase household incomes and restore dignity to work.
Politics Nigeria reports that the criticism followed an agreement between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday to introduce a N70,000 monthly transport allowance for workers for six months, beginning in November 2026.
The government also agreed to commence minimum wage negotiations immediately following a conciliation meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja on October 27, 2026.
It was reported that the meeting was held as a follow-up to an earlier conciliation meeting on October 22 to address concerns raised by organised labour over worsening economic conditions and workers’ welfare.
Other issues raised by labour included demands for a reduction in petrol prices, improved wages, tax relief and the payment of outstanding allowances to public servants.