Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has once again criticized the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the worsening economic hardship faced by Nigerians — a crisis he blames squarely on the hasty removal of fuel subsidy.
Atiku, in a statement shared on social media, lamented that Tinubu’s decision to abolish the subsidy on the very day of his inauguration was thoughtless and poorly conceived.
According to him, that singular action triggered an “economic avalanche” that has since crushed the average Nigerian under the burden of escalating inflation, deepening hunger, and widespread despair.
He noted that in an attempt to manage the economic crisis it brought upon itself, the Tinubu administration had promised to pay a wage award to federal civil servants.
This was meant to serve as a temporary relief while negotiations for a new national minimum wage were ongoing. However, Atiku expressed disappointment that, like many other promises from the current government, this commitment has largely remained unfulfilled.
“At a minimum, the Federal Government should have paid ten months’ worth of wage awards by now, having taken that long to conclude on a new minimum wage figure,” Atiku stated.
“Yet, only six months have been paid, and that too came after numerous unfulfilled assurances and needless delays.”
He further pointed out that the government still owes federal workers four months in wage award arrears. Given that the monthly payment was pegged at ₦35,000 per worker, this amounts to ₦140,000 owed to each federal employee.
While some state governments have demonstrated responsibility in handling labour matters, Atiku accused the Tinubu-led Federal Government of displaying “callous indifference” and a blatant disregard for the welfare of Nigerian workers.
To compound the situation, Atiku condemned the government’s increasing tendency towards authoritarianism, especially its suppression of free speech and legitimate dissent.
He cited the recent arrest of Comrade Andrew Uche Emelieze, who was detained for merely attempting to organize a peaceful protest demanding the payment of the outstanding wage awards.
“His only ‘crime’ was to speak up on behalf of workers who have been shamefully neglected by their government,” Atiku said, calling the detention a direct affront to democracy, a slap in the face of every Nigerian worker, and a chilling sign of the Tinubu administration’s drift towards tyranny.
He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Emelieze, insisting that the voices of Nigerian workers cannot and will not be silenced.
“The economic hardship biting hard across the nation is real. Hunger is widespread. Rather than resort to repression and intimidation, the government must wake up to its responsibilities. Nigerian workers must not be forgotten or abandoned,” Atiku declared.