In a statement, the party described the World Bank’s findings as an unbiased assessment of Nigeria’s economy, emphasizing the escalation of poverty, hunger, and inflation under the current administration. The report indicates that poverty has deepened significantly, with six out of ten Nigerians now poor compared to four out of ten in 2019.
The party expressed concern over the increase in poverty from 81 million in 2019 to 139 million in 2025, calling it alarming and inconsistent with government narratives of progress. They referenced a recent presidential address claiming economic improvement, arguing that such optimism contradicts the daily struggles of families skipping meals, children leaving school, and households selling assets to survive.
Criticism was also directed at the government for celebrating high revenue collection while neglecting the rising cost of living, particularly food inflation. Poor families now spend about 70 percent of their income on food, leaving little for other essentials.
The party highlighted the decline in social protection programs, noting coverage dropped from 20 percent in 2019 to 6 percent in 2025, with government spending on safety nets at just 0.14 percent of GDP—far below the global average of 1.5 percent.
They argued that the government’s use of an artificially low poverty threshold masks the true extent of poverty, stating that redefining poverty downward does not solve it. The party called for urgent economic policy reforms, prioritizing food security, job creation, and targeted social protection to alleviate widespread hardship.
The statement concluded by stressing the need for a government that prioritizes inclusive growth as a deliberate strategy for national development.