The interim National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Umar Faruk Usman, on July 27, 2025, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of impoverishing Nigerians, citing rising poverty and economic hardship under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Usman pointed to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2025 data showing 70.2 million Nigerians, 34.8% of the population, living below the poverty line, up from 40.1% in 2019. He attributed this to fuel subsidy removal, inflation at 33.4%, and unemployment at 5.3%, which he claims masks underemployment affecting 25% of the workforce.
Usman contrasted this with the LP’s 2023 campaign promises, urging a return to social welfare policies. The APC, through National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, dismissed the claims as politically motivated, highlighting a 3.1% GDP growth in Q2 2025 and infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road.
Critics of the APC argue these gains benefit elites, while public sentiment on social platforms reflects frustration with cost-of-living increases. The narrative of economic mismanagement versus policy defense is polarized, with the truth likely lying in implementation gaps rather than intent alone.
