Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken a bold stand over the deepening hardship across Nigeria, laying the blame squarely on what he described as a “thoughtless and hasty” decision by President Bola Tinubu to remove petrol subsidy on his very first day in office.
In a heartfelt statement shared via his official X handle on Sunday, July 13, Atiku said the president’s announcement—made without consultation or any real safety net for the poor—unleashed a wave of suffering that many Nigerians are still grappling with.
“The President, on his first day in office, announced the removal of petrol subsidy without consultations or a plan to mitigate its impact on the poor and vulnerable,” he wrote. “That hasty and, frankly, thoughtless decision set the stage for the punishing economic crisis Nigerians are facing today.”
Unfulfilled Promises, Wage Arrears, and Broken Trust
Atiku didn’t stop there. He said the Tinubu administration failed to honour its own promise to pay wage awards to federal workers as a temporary relief until a new minimum wage was agreed upon. While the government took nearly a year—10 months—to negotiate the new wage, Atiku pointed out that only six months’ worth of wage awards were actually paid.
“By implication, the federal government owes four months’ arrears of wage awards—N35,000 per month per worker, totalling N140,000 per person,” he stated. “The delay and selective payment reflect a disturbing level of insensitivity from a government that should be prioritising its workers in these trying times.”
While some state governments have taken steps to support their workers, Atiku accused the federal government of “callous indifference” and failing to match promises with action.
Condemning the Arrest of Labour Activist Emelieze
Atiku also condemned the recent arrest of labour activist Andrew Uche Emelieze, who was picked up by security forces for attempting to hold a peaceful protest over the unpaid wages. For Atiku, this is more than a legal issue—it’s a democratic one.
“His only ‘crime’ was speaking up for workers abandoned by the state,” he said. “Instead of engaging in dialogue or fulfilling its promises, the government has now resorted to tyranny and suppression of free speech.”
He called for Emelieze’s immediate release, stressing that targeting citizens who advocate for the rights of others sends the wrong signal in a democracy.
“Nigerians Will Not Be Silenced”
In a strong message to the Tinubu administration, Atiku said Nigerians—especially workers—will not be intimidated or forgotten.
“The economic hardship is real, the hunger is biting, and the government has a duty to act—not repress,” he said, adding that leadership must be grounded in empathy, accountability, and responsibility.
As economic realities continue to bite harder for millions across the country, Atiku’s words have struck a chord with many Nigerians who feel left behind by policies meant to uplift them.
With rising inflation, wage disputes, and growing dissatisfaction, the message from the former Vice President is clear: Nigerians are suffering, and their government must do more than watch. It must act.
