By Clement John
ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s celebration of Nigeria’s reported Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, arguing that the figures do not reflect the harsh economic realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the government’s economic claims were disconnected from the daily struggles of citizens battling inflation, hunger, unemployment and rising living costs.
“People do not eat GDP,” Abdullahi declared.
The party maintained that economic growth figures are meaningless if they do not translate into improved living standards for the population.
“The African Democratic Congress rejects the Federal Government’s attempt to use headline GDP figures to whitewash the deep economic suffering Nigerians are currently enduring across the country,” the statement read.
“No government should be celebrating economic statistics while millions of its citizens are battling hunger, poverty, collapsing purchasing power and rising hopelessness.”
According to the ADC, the true state of the economy is reflected not in official reports but in the experiences of Nigerians in markets, businesses, factories and homes.
“The reality of the Nigerian economy is not what is written in government presentations. The reality is what Nigerians confront every day in markets, on farms, in factories, in shops and in their homes,” the party stated.
The opposition party pointed to rising food prices, high transportation costs and the closure of small businesses as evidence of worsening economic conditions.
“Food prices are unbearable.
Transportation costs have become punitive. Small businesses are shutting down daily under the crushing weight of inflation, energy costs and weak consumer demand,” Abdullahi said.
“Salaries have lost value. Families who once lived modestly are now struggling to survive.”
The ADC argued that economic growth that fails to create jobs, improve incomes or reduce hardship cannot be considered meaningful progress.
“Economic growth that does not reduce suffering, create jobs, improve incomes or restore dignity to citizens is empty growth,” the statement added.
The party further questioned what Nigerians were expected to celebrate amid worsening economic challenges.
“What exactly should Nigerians celebrate? The fact that food inflation continues to devastate households? That millions of young Nigerians remain unemployed or underemployed? That businesses are collapsing faster than new ones are emerging?” the statement queried.
The ADC urged the Federal Government to shift its focus from economic statistics to policies capable of delivering measurable improvements in citizens’ welfare.
“A government that is serious about economic recovery would show humility, acknowledge the pain Nigerians are experiencing and focus on delivering measurable improvements in living conditions instead of celebrating figures that have no meaning to hungry citizens,” the party said.
It added that the real measure of economic performance should be whether citizens are living better than before.
“Nigeria needs an economy that works for ordinary people, not an economy that only looks impressive in presentations to investors and international institutions,” the ADC stated.
“Until growth is felt in the homes of ordinary citizens through affordable food, stable electricity, decent jobs, lower business costs and improved purchasing power, this government has no moral basis to declare economic success.”
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