Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government’s N70,000 monthly transport allowance for public workers, describing the temporary measure as inadequate in tackling Nigeria’s deepening cost-of-living crisis.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, urged the government to broaden its economic relief to cover private-sector workers, traders, and millions of Nigerians battling soaring expenses.

In a statement released on Wednesday by his campaign’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the economic hardship extends beyond transportation, affecting food, energy, rent, and business operations.

He questioned the decision to restrict the allowance to public workers alone, pointing out that private-sector employees and unemployed Nigerians are facing the same pressures.

“If public service workers receive N70,000 monthly for transport from November, what happens to private sector workers, traders, small businesses, transport operators and millions without formal jobs?” he asked.

Atiku further doubted the value of the six-month allowance, pointing out that N70,000 amounts to roughly 50 litres of petrol at N1,400 per litre.

The former vice president faulted the government for failing to deliver real relief through its previous interventions, including the compressed natural gas (CNG) programme.

He accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of using short-term payments to paper over economic hardship created by its own policies.

Atiku instead proposed a transparently managed production subsidy for fuel refined in Nigeria, arguing that it would bring down pump prices while curbing corruption and financial leakages.

He insisted that Nigerians need lasting measures that cut living costs, raise household incomes, and make it cheaper to run businesses.

“N70,000 may help with transport, but it cannot explain why work, food and running a business have become unaffordable,” he said.