Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the welfare and living conditions of Nigerian teachers, arguing that a leader disconnected from the classroom cannot fully understand the struggles confronting educators.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Monday, October 5, 2026, by his Director of Strategic Communication, ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, to mark this year’s Teachers’ Day, said teachers played a significant role in shaping his life and future.
He said, “Of course, I appreciate Nigerian teachers. I am a product of their work and the education I received in their classrooms. I still remember the names and faces of my early teachers in Jada, who saw potential in a young orphan when few others did. They taught me arithmetic and grammar, but they also gave me a future.”
The former Vice President said the economic hardship facing teachers was particularly painful, noting that many educators struggle to meet basic family needs despite their important role in society.
“When I hear of a teacher forced to walk miles because transport fares consume so much of their salary, or borrowing food on credit to feed their family before going to teach our children, my heart breaks. No nation can rise above the level of its teachers. I will honour them not only with words, but with policies that improve their welfare and make life more affordable,” he said.
Atiku, however, turned his attention to Tinubu, questioning the President’s ability to understand the challenges confronting teachers.
“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. Teachers are the architects of every nation’s future. 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,” he said.
“If he cannot honour the people who helped shape him, how can he understand the sacrifices teachers make today? Such a president cannot make life dignified or affordable for teachers—not in the country he leads, nor in the community he calls home,” Atiku added.
The ADC presidential candidate further argued that government policies, rather than commemorative messages, must demonstrate genuine commitment to teachers’ welfare.
“Government cannot praise teachers on this day and leave them to face hardship for the rest of the year. A commemorative message cannot pay a teacher’s bills. Respect must be reflected in fair conditions, reliable support and policies that make life affordable,” he said.
Atiku also apologised to teachers and Nigerians over what he described as the failure of the present leadership to make their welfare a priority.
“I apologise to Nigeria’s teachers and to all Nigerians on behalf of a leadership that has failed to make their welfare a priority. Teachers deserve more than praise, and Nigerians deserve a government that puts their lives and livelihoods first,” he said.
He promised that, if given the opportunity to lead, his administration would prioritise policies aimed at reducing the cost of living and improving the welfare of teachers and families.
“My promise is clear: I will work to make life affordable again. Teachers and families should not have to watch their incomes disappear on food, transport, rent and electricity. We will pursue policies that bring down the cost of living, support decent jobs and ensure that hard work can provide a dignified life,” Atiku said.
