By Mathew Okon
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of turning its social intervention programmes into a “racket” allegedly designed to benefit government officials rather than poor Nigerians.
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The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation in a statement issued on Monday, following findings by the Auditor-General of the Federation that N33.75 billion in cash transfers to 3.29 million households could not be verified.
Abdullahi said the development was not merely a case of mismanagement or oversight, but evidence of alleged corruption in the implementation of social intervention programmes.
“Let us call this what it is. Not mismanagement. Not an oversight. It is an organised racket, which this government has run under the guise of a social intervention programme,” he said.
The ADC recalled previous controversies surrounding the National Social Investment Programme, citing the N585 million reportedly transferred to a private account linked to former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, and allegations surrounding N44 billion under the former NSIPA chief, Halima Shehu.
According to the party, the latest audit finding raises fresh concerns about the transparency and accountability of government interventions targeted at vulnerable Nigerians.
The opposition party also criticised the Federal Government for unveiling a $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme despite what it described as unresolved accountability issues surrounding previous interventions.
“Given the familiar history, we are in no doubt that even in the unlikely event that this latest intervention is ever implemented, it would end up like the others before it: another racket,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC further linked the growing need for social intervention to the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and naira devaluation.
It argued that the policies had worsened living conditions and increased the number of Nigerians requiring government assistance.
“This is a government that manufactured hardship with one hand and pocketed the relief with the other,” the party alleged.
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The ADC called for a comprehensive investigation into the cash transfer scheme and demanded the immediate publication of the full beneficiary register, REMITA payment trail and names of officials allegedly involved in obstructing the Auditor-General’s work.
The party maintained that greater transparency was necessary to restore public confidence in government social protection programmes and ensure that funds meant for vulnerable Nigerians reach their intended beneficiaries.