3rd September, 2026 | News

Atiku Questions N750bn Cash Transfers, Pledges Affordable Welfare If Elected in 2027

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the Federal Government to account for the reported N750 billion cash transfers to more than 10 million Nigerians, while outlining his plans for affordable welfare and improved security if elected president in 2027.

Atiku made the remarks on Thursday during a press conference at the ADC national secretariat in Abuja, where he criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and questioned the government’s handling of public funds and social welfare programmes.

The address, titled “Bola Tinubu Calls It Prosperity, But Nigerians Can Barely Afford To Live,” focused on the cost of living, fuel subsidy removal, insecurity, public spending, government borrowing and welfare programmes.

Atiku Demands Account of N750bn Cash Transfers

Atiku questioned how the Federal Government identified and paid more than 10 million beneficiaries reportedly receiving N75,000 each under the cash-transfer programme.

The former vice president said the reported payments amount to at least N750 billion and demanded verifiable records showing how the beneficiaries were identified, contacted and paid.

His questions followed comments attributed to APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda that many beneficiaries were poor Nigerians without access to phones, television or social media.

Atiku asked the government to provide transaction records or receipts for the payments, particularly in parts of Borno and Yobe affected by insecurity.

He said Nigerians were not asking for the identities of vulnerable beneficiaries to be exposed but wanted an auditable account of how public funds reached them.

Atiku Promises Affordable Welfare

Atiku said that if elected president in 2027, his administration would place affordability and protection of lives and property at the centre of government policy.

He said his proposed priorities would include reducing the cost of food, fuel and electricity while improving access to healthcare and education.

The ADC candidate also said his administration would measure progress by what Nigerians could afford and whether citizens could live safely.

Cost-of-Living Crisis

Atiku criticised the Tinubu administration over what he described as worsening economic pressure on households.

He argued that Nigerians were facing higher costs for food, transportation, healthcare and other essential services.

Atiku also challenged President Tinubu’s description of Nigeria as entering an “age of prosperity”, arguing that economic growth and government revenue should translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ living standards.

He questioned whether the benefits of increased government revenue following the removal of the petrol subsidy had reached ordinary Nigerians.

Atiku Criticises Fuel Subsidy Removal

The ADC presidential candidate also criticised the removal of the fuel subsidy, arguing that it increased pressure on households through higher petrol and transportation costs.

Atiku proposed a capped and budgeted production subsidy tied to verified fuel refined in Nigeria, including fuel from modular refineries.

According to him, the proposed policy would focus on domestic refining and ensure that any subsidy benefit reaches consumers through lower pump prices.

He said the costs and payments under such a programme should be publicly disclosed and independently audited.

Security and Public Welfare

Atiku also linked economic wellbeing to security, citing attacks by armed groups and displacement in communities across the country.

He argued that government must address both the affordability of essential goods and the protection of lives and property.

According to him, farmers, families and businesses cannot fully benefit from economic opportunities where insecurity prevents them from working or travelling safely.

Atiku Questions Nigeria’s Public Debt

The former vice president also raised concerns about Nigeria’s public debt and proposed additional borrowing.

He cited a public debt figure of N166.79 trillion as of June and questioned the government’s reported plans to seek an additional $1.5 billion World Bank loan.

Atiku called for greater transparency over existing borrowing, asking the government to disclose what borrowed funds had delivered, including the projects funded, their costs and the beneficiaries.

Contractor Payments and Government Spending

Atiku also called on the Federal Government to publish information on outstanding payments owed to local contractors who completed government projects.

He alleged that some contractors had borrowed money to execute projects and were subsequently left struggling to repay their debts while awaiting payment from government.

He urged the administration to publish the amount owed to contractors and provide details of when outstanding obligations would be settled.

Atiku Calls for Greater Accountability

Throughout his address, Atiku called for greater transparency in government spending and public programmes.

He argued that citizens should be able to assess government policies through measurable outcomes rather than official announcements.

The ADC presidential candidate said his proposed approach would focus on affordability, public accountability, security, job creation and access to essential services.

His remarks form part of the emerging political debate ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, with opposition parties increasingly scrutinising the Tinubu administration’s economic policies and social welfare programmes.