ABUJA – Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed the Federal Government’s N70,000 monthly transport allowance for public service workers as an inadequate response to the rising cost of living, saying it cannot address the hardship facing millions of Nigerians. Atiku said the allowance, scheduled to begin in November, was a desperate attempt to contain public anger over the economic crisis, arguing that the government’s policies had made virtually every aspect of daily life unaffordable.
In a statement on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the crisis extended beyond transport costs to food, energy, rent and other essentials, leaving households and businesses struggling to survive.
“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.
Atiku illustrated the impact on ordinary Nigerians, saying, “Barbers pay more to power their clippers; restaurant owners face higher cooking costs; shopkeepers struggle to keep prices down; school bus operators pay more for fuel; and families still must buy food. Every business and household is affected. Does hardship end at the bus stop?”
The former vice president questioned why the relief was restricted to public service workers when private sector employees, traders, small businesses, transport operators and millions without formal jobs were equally affected by rising living costs.
“If public service workers receive N70,000 monthly for transport from November, what happens to private sector workers, traders, small businesses, transport operators and millions without formal jobs? The public workforce is only a fraction of Nigeria’s population. A temporary allowance for some cannot solve a national crisis,” he said.
Atiku also faulted the government for failing to resolve the effective date of a new minimum wage, demanding clarity on payment dates, eligibility for the allowance and when wage negotiations would produce a decision.
He said the six-month allowance would offer limited relief against soaring fuel prices, noting that N70,000 at about N1,400 per litre would buy roughly 50 litres of petrol.
What meaningful difference can 50 litres make over an entire month?” he asked.
