The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the Federal Government's celebration of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, asserting that such reported economic progress fails to translate into tangible improvements in the daily lives of ordinary citizens. In statements issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party vehemently rejected the government’s attempts to "whitewash" the nation’s deep economic suffering with favourable macroeconomic indicators. The ADC argued that the government's focus on statistical performance starkly contrasts with the harsh realities faced by millions of Nigerians, who are grappling with relentless rising living costs, pervasive unemployment, and significantly declining purchasing power.

The party maintained that the true measure of economic growth lies in its impact on the populace, rather than mere official reports. "People do not eat GDP," the ADC declared, stressing that meaningful economic growth must manifest in concrete benefits such as lower food prices, robust job creation, stronger purchasing power, and genuinely improved living conditions for citizens. This perspective directly challenges the current economic narrative promoted by the government, which, according to the ADC, is profoundly misaligned with the lived experiences of Nigerians across diverse sectors, including markets, businesses, and households. The disconnect was highlighted in response to Minister of Finance Taiwo Oyedele’s presentation at a meeting with investors in Paris, France, where he painted a glowing picture of Nigeria’s economy, including an 11.2 percent GDP growth in dollar terms in 2025 and an ambition to grow the economy to $1 trillion by 2030.

The ADC pointed to worsening economic conditions as evidence of this misalignment, noting that high inflation and increasing business costs have placed immense strain on families and small enterprises nationwide. Specific examples cited include soaring food and transportation costs, which have become "punitive," leading to the closure of small businesses struggling under the crushing weight of inflation, high energy costs, and weak consumer demand. The party lamented that salaries have lost considerable value, pushing many families that once lived modestly into a desperate struggle for survival. "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 statement underscored.

The African Democratic Congress asserted that "growth that only exists in official reports while citizens descend deeper into hardship is not meaningful progress. It is economic abstraction disconnected from human reality." They further elaborated that "economic growth that does not reduce suffering, create jobs, improve incomes, or restore dignity to citizens is empty growth." The party called on the government to re-evaluate its priorities, advocating for policies that directly enhance livelihoods instead of focusing on what it described as public relations efforts around economic figures. The fundamental purpose of governance, the ADC reiterated, is to improve the living conditions of the people, not merely to manage public perception through statistics.

Questioning the basis for any celebration of economic gains, the ADC enumerated critical challenges confronting Nigerians: persistent food inflation devastating households, millions of young Nigerians enduring unemployment or underemployment, businesses collapsing faster than new ones emerge, and more citizens slipping into poverty despite working harder than ever. The party urged the government to adopt a humble, people-centred approach to economic management, acknowledging the widespread pain Nigerians are experiencing. This approach, the ADC stressed, should focus resolutely on delivering measurable and tangible improvements in living conditions rather than celebrating figures that hold no meaning for hungry citizens. The ADC concluded that the true test of economic policy is simple: "Can Nigerians live better today than they did yesterday?" For millions of Nigerians, the party affirmed, the unequivocal answer is "no," underscoring the urgent need for an economic strategy that provides tangible benefits such as affordable food, stable electricity, decent jobs, and improved purchasing power.