Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has said President Bola Tinubu could not understand the struggles of teachers in the country if he could not name his teachers and classmates.
Atiku said this on Monday, October 5, while paying tribute to teachers across Nigeria and also condemning the worsening cost of living that is making it harder for them to support their families and carry out their vital work.
Atiku, in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, said he knew and loved his teachers, both those still living and those who had passed on.
“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 ophan as few others did. They taught me arithmetic and grammar, but they also gave me a future.
“When I hear of a teacher forced to walk miles because transport fares consume so much of their salary, or taking 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.
“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.
“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,” he said.
Atiku added that teachers are expected to keep giving their best while the cost of food, transport, rent and electricity continues to rise and their incomes struggle to keep pace.
“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.
“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.
As an educationist and founder of the American University of Nigeria, Atiku said he understood the dedication teaching demands, describing teachers as builders of confidence, knowledge and opportunity, and said Nigeria could not secure its future while neglecting those who educate its children.
“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,” he said.
Atiku thanked teachers across Nigeria for their service and urged the country to match its praise for them with meaningful support.
