100 Days to 2027: AA Envoys Urge Nigerians to Consider Atiku’s Economic Proposals

The AA Envoys, a youth- and women-led political advocacy group, has called on political parties and Nigerians to critically examine the economic proposals of former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group made the call in a statement marking the 100-day countdown to the presidential election.

Its National Coordinator, Engr. Sirajo Abdullahi, said the organisation would use the countdown period to draw public attention to policy proposals addressing the rising cost of living, domestic production, employment and economic opportunities.

One of the proposals highlighted by the group is Atiku’s plan to introduce a targeted production subsidy for petroleum products refined locally in Nigeria.

Atiku had proposed that, if elected, his administration would support domestically refined petroleum products sold to Nigerians through a transparent subsidy scheme, rather than return to the former system of subsidising imported petrol.

According to the proposal, the intervention would operate within a fixed spending limit, require approval from the National Assembly and be subjected to independent auditing.

The proposal has, however, attracted criticism from the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, which have questioned its legal, fiscal and operational implications.

The APC campaign council has challenged Atiku to explain how the proposed subsidy would comply with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, its projected cost and how government support for domestic refiners would translate into lower petrol prices for Nigerians.

Abdullahi said the AA Envoys’ 100-day countdown programme would examine policy proposals from presidential candidates and other political actors, with particular focus on affordability, domestic production, employment and citizens’ purchasing power.

He also disclosed that the group planned to publish a document outlining what it described as “100 policy reasons” why Atiku’s programme deserved public consideration.

Abdullahi, however, urged Nigerians to assess all presidential candidates and their policy programmes before making their choices in the 2027 election.

The AA Envoys said its advocacy would continue to focus on economic policy and governance issues, particularly measures capable of improving household welfare and expanding economic opportunities as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.