Nigeria’s African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cease using U.S. dollars when announcing financial rewards for citizens, arguing that the practice undermines national currency sovereignty. The criticism follows recent presidential awards granted to Nigeria’s female national football team, the Super Falcons, and the basketball squad, D’Tigress, for their international performances.
ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi voiced the party’s stance in a social media post on X (formerly Twitter) Tuesday, acknowledging the president’s financial support for the athletes while condemning the choice of currency. “We thank President [Bola Ahmed Tinubu] for amply rewarding our victorious Falcons and D’Tigress,” he wrote. “But we find it strange that the president has repeatedly shown his disregard for the Nigerian sovereign currency by announcing the awards in U.S. dollars.” Abdullahi concluded his statement by invoking the National Orientation Agency’s ongoing anti-abuse campaign, urging Tinubu to heed its message: “Mr. President sir, NOA says, Stop the Naira Abuse.”
The ADC’s remarks highlight growing scrutiny over the use of foreign currencies in official transactions, particularly as Nigeria grapples with inflationary pressures and a depreciating naira. While the exact amounts of the recent rewards were not disclosed, the decision to publicize them in dollars has drawn criticism for signaling a lack of confidence in the local currency. President Tinubu has previously faced similar scrutiny for dollar-denominated announcements, including bonuses for athletes and civil servants.
The debate touches on broader economic concerns. The naira has lost significant value against the dollar in recent years, with exchange rates fluctuating amid foreign exchange shortages. Critics argue that high-profile use of foreign currency risks normalizing its adoption in everyday transactions, further destabilizing the naira.
Nigeria’s National Orientation Agency, a government body tasked with promoting civic awareness, has intensified efforts to curb practices deemed harmful to the naira’s integrity, including spraying or defacing banknotes at public events. The ADC’s appeal aligns with these efforts, framing currency choice as a matter of national pride and economic prudence.
The presidency has not yet responded to the ADC’s criticism. However, the dispute underscores the symbolic weight of currency in Nigeria’s economic policies, where measures to stabilize the naira—including recent central bank interventions—remain contentious. Observers note that how rewards are framed publicly could influence both domestic perceptions of the currency’s value and international investor confidence.
The Super Falcons and D’Tigress have not commented on the controversy, though both teams are widely celebrated in Nigeria for their achievements. The football squad recently secured a record-extending Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualification, while the basketball team has emerged as a continental powerhouse. Their successes have amplified calls for greater investment in sports, even as the currency debate reveals deeper tensions over Nigeria’s economic direction.
