Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the economic hardship he said is confronting teachers across Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to take concrete steps to improve their welfare.
Atiku spoke in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, to mark the 2026 World Teachers’ Day.
He said teachers deserved more than government commendations, arguing that appreciation for their contribution to national development must be reflected in policies that improve their living and working conditions.
Atiku, who described himself as a product of teachers’ dedication, recalled the teachers who taught him in Jada and helped shape his future.
“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,” he said.
He expressed concern over the rising cost of food, transportation, rent and electricity, saying the economic situation was making it increasingly difficult for teachers to meet their family obligations.
According to him, some teachers now face situations where transport fares consume a significant portion of their salaries, while others reportedly resort to buying food on credit to feed their families.
“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,” Atiku said.
The former vice president also took aim at President Tinubu, questioning his appreciation of 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,” he said.
Atiku described teachers as “architects of every nation’s future,” arguing that the profession should not be celebrated with words alone while practitioners struggle with the rising cost of living.
“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.
He further said teachers could not be expected to continue giving their best to educating Nigerian children when their incomes were being eroded by the cost of basic necessities.
Atiku, who is the founder of the American University of Nigeria, said his experience in the education sector had given him a deeper understanding of the dedication required of teachers.
He described teachers as builders of confidence, knowledge and opportunity, stressing that Nigeria could not secure its future while neglecting those responsible for educating its children.
The ADC presidential candidate pledged that an administration led by him would pursue policies aimed at reducing the cost of living, supporting decent employment and improving the welfare of teachers and Nigerian 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,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to go beyond celebrating teachers on October 5 and support policies capable of restoring dignity to the teaching profession.
“Teachers deserve more than praise, and Nigerians deserve a government that puts their lives and livelihoods first,” Atiku said.
