The presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party, Peter Agada, has criticised the Federal Government’s 90-day action plan to ease the cost of living.
He described it as a campaign strategy that fails to address Nigeria’s economic realities.
Recall that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, had announced that the National Economic Council had approved the plan to cushion the effects of economic hardship.
Reacting in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, Agada questioned the effectiveness of previous government interventions, including measures to reduce petrol prices, remove illegal levies and support businesses and farmers.
Agada also questioned the timing of the initiative ahead of the 2027 general election.
“These promises back and forth are for Nigerians to believe and vote them back into office. So after the election, what happens?” he asked.
“I think that I align with those who opined that the economic team of Mr President has failed to address Nigeria’s numerous economic challenges.
“I have listened to many television and radio analysts, but none spoke positively in support of the economic team. And that has got to show that they have lost their bearings,” he said.
Agada recalled that the government had announced several interventions after removing the petrol subsidy in 2023, including funding for manufacturing, small businesses, agriculture and the compressed natural gas initiative.
“And a year after, you went and removed all the tariff on food importation, and that didn’t fight food inflation,” he said.
He argued that the measures had not adequately addressed the rising cost of living, particularly food inflation. He urged Nigerians to hold the government accountable for its economic policies, insisting that new promises should be assessed against measurable outcomes.
The YPP candidate also proposed his campaign council’s LabourDirect ward-to-ward development strategy, which he said could stimulate grassroots economic activities and empower Nigerians within 60 days.
“#LabourDirect, the ward-to-ward strategy of my Campaign Council, remains an option that can capture all Nigerians within 60 days of implementation,” he said.
Agada urged the Federal Government to consider adopting the proposal, arguing that greater attention should be paid to employment, local production and community-level development.