World Teachers’ Day: Atiku Calls Tinubu Out Over Teachers’ Welfare, Claims President Cannot Name Former Classmates
ABUJA, NIGERIA—Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has marked World Teachers’ Day by launching a fierce criticism against President Bola Tinubu, claiming that a leader who cannot remember his own teachers or classmates cannot comprehend the current economic hardships facing Nigerian educators.
In a statement released by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku countered the current administration’s economic policies, stating that the rising cost of living has severely diminished the quality of life for teachers across the nation.
Atiku targeted President Tinubu’s past controversies regarding his academic record, asserting that the President’s inability to publicly identify his formative educators or peers reflects a deep disconnect from the educational sector.
“It is both revealing and deeply embarrassing that Bola Tinubu cannot name a single teacher who stood before him or a classmate who sat beside him,” Atiku said in the statement. “A leader who cannot remember those who laid the foundation of his own education has shown just how far removed he is from the classroom and from the daily struggles of those who keep it alive.”
Atiku argued that this alleged lack of connection explains why the current administration has failed to cushion teachers from the harsh economic climate.
Reflecting on the current economic realities in Nigeria, Atiku highlighted the struggles of educators dealing with skyrocketing prices for food, transportation, rent, and electricity. He noted that many teachers are forced to trek long distances to work or buy basic items on credit because their salaries have been eroded by inflation.
“A commemorative message cannot pay a teacher’s bills,” Atiku stated, urging the federal government to move beyond annual praise and implement structural policy changes.
“Government cannot praise teachers on this day and leave them to face hardship for the rest of the year. Respect must be reflected in fair conditions, reliable support, and policies that make life affordable.”
Atiku Proposes Policy Shifts
Drawing on his background as an educationist and the founder of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Atiku apologized to Nigerian educators on behalf of the political class for failing to prioritize their welfare. He promised that his political platform would focus on lowering the cost of living and enacting welfare packages specifically targeted at civil servants and teachers.
The presidency has not yet responded to Atiku’s statements regarding the welfare of teachers or the criticisms aimed at President Tinubu’s academic history.
