Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing it of worsening economic hardship for Nigerian workers and betraying the promise of “Renewed Hope.”
In a statement shared on his X handle on Friday to mark the 2026 Workers’ Day, Atiku said the occasion should be a time to celebrate the dignity of labour but lamented that workers are currently grappling with severe economic challenges and unmet expectations.
He argued that the “Renewed Hope” slogan, which underpinned the 2023 election campaign, has instead translated into “renewed hardship” for millions of Nigerians.
“A slogan betrayed. ‘Renewed Hope’ those two words carried the dreams of millions of Nigerians who trooped to the polls in 2023,” he wrote.
Atiku stated that workers across sectors including teachers, nurses, civil servants, artisans, and factory workers have been hit hardest by rising inflation, worsening living conditions, and declining purchasing power.
He also revisited the removal of fuel subsidy, describing it as a necessary policy that was poorly implemented.
According to him, while he had long supported subsidy removal in principle, the Tinubu administration executed it without adequate planning, worsening the cost of living.
“The removal of the fuel subsidy was, in principle, a policy that many, including myself, had long advocated. But the manner in which it was executed was irresponsible and callous,” he said.
He noted that transportation fares, food prices, and general living costs surged immediately after the policy was introduced, leaving workers without sufficient cushioning measures.
Atiku further questioned how savings from the subsidy removal have been managed, arguing that Nigerians have yet to feel any tangible benefits.
He alleged that instead of being channelled into social services or economic relief programmes, the funds were shared across tiers of government, with a significant portion reportedly directed to infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
He described the project as controversial, raising concerns over procurement transparency and possible conflict of interest.
The former vice president maintained that the hardship faced by Nigerian workers reflects deeper governance challenges and called for more transparent, people-oriented economic policies.
Elijah Adeyemi
No comments:
Post a Comment