The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of running a fraudulent social intervention programme, calling it a “big scam” that exploits the poor for political and personal gain. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Monday, the opposition party cited findings from the Auditor-General of the Federation revealing that N33.75 billion in cash transfers to 3.29 million households cannot be verified. The ADC argues this unaccounted sum is evidence of systemic corruption within the Social Intervention Programme, which was meant to alleviate poverty and support vulnerable Nigerians.
The party emphasized that under President Tinubu, what was supposed to be a welfare initiative has become a racket benefiting government officials rather than the intended beneficiaries. It pointed to past incidents as proof of ongoing malfeasance, including the case of Betta Edu, who reportedly received N585 million wired into her private account at the start of the administration before being suspended. The ADC noted she has since returned to public life, now serving on the President’s campaign council, raising questions about accountability.
Another major concern highlighted by the ADC is the disappearance of N44 billion from the National Social Investment Programme Agency during Halima Shehu’s tenure. This, combined with the latest audit report showing N33.75 billion untraceable within a larger N78 billion fund, paints a troubling picture of recurring financial mismanagement. The ADC insists this is not mere oversight or inefficiency but an organized criminal enterprise disguised as social welfare.
“The government made a show of suspending her,” the party stated, referring to Betta Edu, “but now she is back on the President’s campaign council.” The ADC added that this pattern suggests a deliberate effort to continue stealing from the poor while blaming economic hardship on external factors. Instead of addressing these deep-rooted issues, the federal government has announced a new $1 billion social intervention package without demonstrating improved transparency or accountability mechanisms.
The ADC urged the government to halt further disbursements until a thorough investigation is conducted and reforms are implemented. It stressed that Nigerians deserve honest governance and that social programmes must serve their purpose—lifting people out of poverty—not enriching corrupt officials. As the country grapples with rising inflation and unemployment, the credibility of such initiatives hangs in the balance. The coming weeks will test whether the government can restore public trust or if the criticism will grow louder as more evidence emerges.
Leave a Comment