Opposition political parties in the country have come down hard on the Federal Government over the recent launch of $1bn Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project which they allege was designed to influence voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The parties, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) questioned the timing of the programme, which was launched in Abuja on Wednesday.
Launched under the theme, “From Palliatives to Pathways,” the federal government said the initiative targets vulnerable households by improving beneficiary identification, providing immediate support during economic shocks and creating pathways for households to graduate from poverty.
The programme was unveiled by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who said that many families continued to face difficulties despite the ongoing reforms, stressing that the HOPE-SP project would provide “immediate stabilisation assistance” while placing vulnerable households on a path to recovery, empowerment and self-reliance.
The Federal Government said the programme would target about 7.6m vulnerable households, with eligible beneficiaries expected to receive a one-off digital shock-response payment of N40,000. Beneficiaries are to be selected from the National Social Register and verified with their National Identification Numbers.
The launch also featured the unveiling of other components of the government’s new social protection architecture, including the One-Humanitarian-One Poverty Response System, the Emergency Cash Transfer Programme and a ministerial blueprint for humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction.
READ ALSO: OPINION… VeryDarkMan, SAN: If law is about advocacy, what exactly is NBA afraid of?
However, opposition parties said the timing of the new intervention raised questions, particularly with the 2027 elections less than a year away.
The ADC described the $1bn programme as a reaction to the economic hardship Nigerians had experienced under the Tinubu administration and linked its launch to the growing popularity of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s proposal for a targeted production subsidy.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Thursday, the party questioned why the government was only now making a major financial commitment to social protection after years of complaints from Nigerians over rising food, transport and energy costs.
The party said the government had previously insisted that there was no money to adequately cushion the effects of its economic reforms but had now found $1bn for a new intervention as elections approached.
“Why did the poor only become visible when their votes become valuable?” the ADC asked.
The party also questioned the funding and administrative structure of the programme, particularly the role of the First Lady in unveiling a Federal Government intervention.
“Is this a Federal Government programme or a project of the First Lady?” the party asked, demanding clarification on the budget head or financing arrangement under which the money was approved, the institution responsible for accounting for the funds and who would ultimately answer to the Auditor-General and the National Assembly.
The ADC said it supported genuine efforts to protect vulnerable Nigerians but argued that palliatives could not substitute for policies that restored purchasing power and expanded economic opportunities.
It further accused the administration of attempting to address the consequences of its economic policies through what it described as a politically motivated intervention ahead of the 2027 elections.
On its part, the NDC said it welcomed any genuine intervention aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians but questioned the timing of the HOPE-SP launch.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said that the proximity of the elections made the development open to political interpretation.
“We welcome every move directed at addressing the challenges facing our people. However, with elections just a few months away, one may wonder why the government is just realising the need for this intervention.
“The timing will definitely elicit questions that the ruling party and the government in power may be unwilling to answer,” he said.
