The African Action Congress (AAC) has criticised the Federal Government for what it describes as misplaced priorities, after reports surfaced that athletes and their technical crew were gifted large sums of money and houses, while many retired police officers are still unpaid and living in hardship.

In a Facebook post, the AAC’s Publicity Secretary, Adeyeye Olorunfemi expressed displeasure over the lavish gifts reportedly given to the sports team. “$100k each to the players. $50k each to the technical team. Houses also shared to them,” he wrote.

He then drew attention to the words of the party’s National Chairman and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who had earlier protested and decried the poor treatment of Nigerian police officers who spent decades serving the country.

Quoting Sowore, he wrote: “Police officers are receiving less than ₦1 million as gratuity after serving for 35 years. Many of them have not received a kobo as pension since they retired. This is injustice!”

The statement stressed that the act is a deliberate show of inequality and injustice in how the government treats different categories of citizens. “This is a clear case of misplaced priority. How can a country that claims to be broke suddenly find millions of dollars to dash out, while senior citizens who risked their lives for years go home with nothing?” the party queried.

The statement also mocked those who often defend the government’s failure to meet its obligations to workers and pensioners, particularly those who argue based on economic theories. “FG and some Adam Smith Nigerians: Sowore, there’s no money nau. Understand the principle of scarce resources. You don’t understand Economics,” the post added sarcastically.