Workers' Day Reflects Broken Promises, Growing Burden — Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticized the economic direction under President Bola Tinubu, asserting that Nigerian workers are bearing the brunt of policies that have exacerbated hardship nationwide. In a statement marking Workers' Day, Abubakar lamented that the occasion was not one of celebration but a "painful reminder of broken promises and a growing burden" on those who sustain the country.

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This year’s Workers’ Day is not a moment of joy for millions of Nigerians. It is a painful reminder of broken promises and a growing burden placed on the shoulders of those who keep this country running.

Abubakar specifically targeted the administration's economic reforms, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy. While acknowledging the inevitability of this policy, he argued that its implementation was "hasty, unstructured, and devoid of the necessary safeguards to protect ordinary Nigerians." The immediate consequence, he noted, was a dramatic surge in the cost of living, making essential goods, food, and transportation increasingly unaffordable for the average worker, who has seen no commensurate increase in wages or support systems.

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Let me be clear: the removal of fuel subsidy was inevitable and long overdue. However, its implementation by this administration was hasty, unstructured, and devoid of the necessary safeguards to protect ordinary Nigerians.

Furthermore, Abubakar raised serious concerns about the management of the trillions of naira reportedly saved from the subsidy removal. He pointed out that the average Nigerian cannot identify any tangible improvements in their lives resulting from these savings, questioning the transparency and accountability of the government's fiscal priorities. He called for economic reforms to be "people-centered," emphasizing that growth which does not translate into improved living conditions for workers is neither inclusive nor sustainable. Abubakar reaffirmed his solidarity with Nigerian workers, urging the government to heed their concerns and act decisively, stating that resilience should not be mistaken for an endurance of endless hardship.

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What we have witnessed is a dramatic surge in the cost of living without any commensurate increase in wages or meaningful support systems.