The African Democratic Congress has criticised the Federal Government for celebrating Nigeria’s reported economic growth, arguing that the figures do not reflect the hardship faced by ordinary citizens. The party said the focus on Gross Domestic Product growth ignores the worsening realities of rising living costs, unemployment and declining purchasing power across the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stressed that economic growth is meaningless if it does not translate into improved living conditions. He dismissed the government’s narrative of recovery, insisting that millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with hunger, inflation and economic uncertainty.
According to Abdullahi, headline economic indicators fail to capture the daily experiences of citizens. He noted that food prices have surged beyond the reach of many households, while transportation costs and energy expenses continue to rise sharply. Small businesses, he added, are shutting down under the pressure of high operating costs and weak consumer demand.
The party argued that the gap between official economic data and lived reality is widening, with families finding it increasingly difficult to meet basic needs. Salaries, Abdullahi said, have lost value due to inflation, leaving even previously le households in financial distress.
The ADC also questioned the rationale behind celebrating GDP figures when many Nigerians are experiencing declining standards of living. It maintained that governance should prioritise improving welfare rather than highlighting statistics that do not reflect real progress.
Calling for a shift in policy direction, the party urged the government to focus on practical outcomes such as job creation, affordable food, le electricity and stronger purchasing power. It emphasised that true economic success should be measured by whether citizens can live better lives.
The party concluded that until economic growth is felt at the grassroots level, claims of recovery remain disconnected from reality.
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