You won’t understand teachers’ struggles if you can’t name yours, classmates — Atiku to Tinubu
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu for the deteriorating conditions faced by teachers and families in Nigeria. The comments were made in a statement released on Monday by Phrank Shaibu, the Director of Strategic Communication for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
Atiku lamented that leaders who cannot recall the names of their teachers or classmates are unlikely to grasp the challenges educators face. He emphasized the lasting impact of his own early teachers in Jada, who he credited with shaping his future after he lost his parents at a young age.
The ADC presidential candidate highlighted the struggles teachers endure amid escalating costs for food, transportation, rent, and electricity, while their salaries remain stagnant in the face of rising living expenses.
“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,” Atiku stated, referring to the disconnection some leaders have from the educational sector.
He recognized teachers as “architects of every nation’s future” and argued that their welfare should not be confined to ceremonial acknowledgment on Teachers’ Day. “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,” he added.
Atiku extended an apology to Nigerian teachers and citizens, holding the current leadership accountable for failing to prioritize their welfare. He pledged that, if elected, his administration would implement policies aimed at reducing the cost of living, creating quality jobs, and enhancing the living standards of teachers and families.
As the founder of the American University of Nigeria, Atiku expressed that his experience in education has given him a profound appreciation for the dedication and sacrifices inherent in teaching. He concluded by thanking teachers nationwide for their service and called on the government to translate its recognition into substantial policies that ensure dignified living conditions for educators.
