The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of using its proposed ₦70,000 transport intervention for Nigerian workers as a political inducement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adebayo described the intervention as “vote buying by trick”, arguing that the proposed 90-day relief package would provide only temporary assistance without addressing the underlying causes of workers’ economic hardship.
In a statement issued on Wednesday night and made available to The Frontier by his campaign’s Chief Media and Communications Adviser, Mark Adebayo, the SDP candidate questioned the sincerity of the Federal Government’s decision, describing the intervention as a “Greek gift”.
He argued that a temporary intervention could offer little lasting relief to workers struggling with rising living costs, warning that Nigerians could be left to contend with the same economic difficulties once the 90-day period expires.
“This fire-brigade approach to governance is proof that the APC administration completely lacks sustainable ideas for Nigeria’s development,” Adebayo said.
He accused the administration of prioritising short-term measures over policies that would create lasting economic opportunities, improve infrastructure and increase household incomes.
“Instead of building enduring infrastructure and creating systemic wealth, they resort to confusionist actions and short-term bribes that only serve to further entrench Nigerians in multidimensional poverty once the election cycle is over,” he added.
Adebayo promises living wage, economic overhaul
The SDP candidate pledged that, if elected president, his administration would abandon what he described as reactionary economic policies in favour of a comprehensive programme aimed at improving workers’ earnings and the purchasing power of Nigerians.
He promised to pursue a sustainable living wage for Nigerian workers, reverse the country’s economic difficulties and establish policies capable of delivering lasting improvements in living standards.
Adebayo also pointed to his economic blueprint, titled Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity, as the foundation of his proposed approach to Nigeria’s development.
He said the programme would prioritise economic transformation, improved security and sustained prosperity, although the statement did not provide specific policy details, implementation timelines or funding arrangements for the proposed reforms.
“I have the best plans for the total and complete socioeconomic transformation of Nigeria and I am the best prepared and capable among all the presidential candidates,” Adebayo said.
His criticism adds to the political debate over whether temporary financial interventions can adequately address the pressure on Nigerian workers or whether more fundamental changes to wages, productivity and the cost of living are required.
The proposed ₦70,000 intervention is therefore likely to remain a point of contention as political parties present competing approaches to easing economic hardship ahead of the 2027 elections.
