The African Democratic Congress has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to account for about N15.8 trillion in additional resources reportedly generated from the removal of petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms.
The party also questioned whether the increased government revenue had improved the living conditions of Nigerians, arguing that the economic gains highlighted by the administration had yet to translate into better welfare for citizens.
The ADC stated this in a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in response to remarks by Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, Director-General of President Tinubu’s re-election campaign, who reportedly described promises of economic relief as a “lie.”
According to the party, figures credited to the Minister of Finance indicated that the petrol subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms produced about N15.8 trillion in additional resources for the Federation between June 2023 and December 2025.
The ADC said the Federal Government received approximately N5.4 trillion from the additional resources, while state governments got N5.4 trillion and local governments received N3.9 trillion.
It further stated that states collectively received about N47.25 trillion through Federation Account Allocation Committee disbursements between 2023 and 2025. The allocations, it said, increased from N10.09 trillion in 2023 to N15.26 trillion in 2024 and N21.90 trillion in 2025.
The party added that monthly FAAC distributions had risen beyond N2 trillion, compared with less than N1 trillion before the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Despite the increase in government earnings, however, the ADC maintained that Nigerians had yet to experience a corresponding improvement in their standard of living.
The party pointed out that petrol prices climbed from roughly N185 per litre in May 2023 to more than N1,300 in several parts of the country by August 2025. It also noted that food inflation exceeded 40 per cent at certain periods within the same timeframe.
The ADC said transportation expenses had equally increased significantly, while the Compressed Natural Gas mass-transit option announced by the Federal Government had not reached Nigerians at the scale necessary to provide meaningful relief.
The party consequently demanded an explanation from the government on how the additional revenues generated from the reforms had been utilised.
“Before asking Nigerians for four more years, Senator Yari and the APC must answer one question: after N15.8 trillion in additional resources, record FAAC allocations and three years of unprecedented sacrifice, are Nigerians better off?” the party asked.
The ADC also expressed concern over the growing borrowing by state governments despite the substantial increase in FAAC allocations.
It referenced reports indicating that about 20 states borrowed N458 billion in 2025 and demanded information on the projects financed with the additional funds available to the states.
“After N47.25 trillion to states in three years, Nigerians have a right to ask: where are the results? If states received an additional N5.4 trillion from the reforms, let the government publish the projects,” the party said.
The opposition party demanded details of spending on schools, hospitals, roads and mass-transit infrastructure, insisting that such investments should demonstrate the benefits of the revenues generated amid the economic hardships faced by Nigerians.
The ADC also faulted the administration over the worsening cost of living, saying workers’ earnings were increasingly inadequate to cover essential household expenses.
It alleged that several government budgets were still not fully implemented, local contractors remained owed and important public roads continued to deteriorate.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, the ADC challenged the Tinubu administration to outline a concrete strategy for bringing down the prices of petrol, food and transportation.
“If Senator Yari says subsidy can never return, then he must tell Nigerians what the President’s campaign is offering instead. What is the plan to dramatically reduce petrol prices and bring down food and transportation costs before 2027?” the party asked.
The ADC clarified that it was not calling for a return to the former petrol subsidy arrangement, which it described as lacking transparency and being vulnerable to corruption.
Rather, the party said it would pursue an alternative centred on domestic refining and targeted, transparent interventions designed to lower fuel prices and ease the cost-of-living burden.
The party maintained that the 2027 election would hinge on the capacity of political parties to offer credible solutions to the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.
“Nigerians have sacrificed enough. They need a break,” the ADC said.
