You’ve given workers renewed hardship, not hope – Atiku hammers Tinubu

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the President Bola Tinubu administration for subjecting Nigerian workers to “renewed hardship” instead of the promised “renewed hope” in his 2026 Workers’ Day message.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has lashed out at the President Bola Tinubu administration, claiming it has betrayed the “renewed hope” promise of 2023 by imposing severe economic strain on the nation’s workforce. In a statement released on Thursday to mark the 2026 Workers’ Day, Abubakar expressed deep sympathy for employees across all sectors, describing the current climate as one of “renewed hardship” rather than progress. “But as we mark this year’s commemoration, I write not with celebration in my heart, but with grief. Grief for the Nigerian worker who was promised renewed hope and received instead renewed hardship,” he stated, highlighting the disconnect between government rhetoric and the reality of the average citizen.

Abubakar characterized the Nigerian worker—ranging from civil servants to artisans—as the primary victim of a government he claims is focused more on amassing revenue than fostering human welfare. He specifically pointed to the administration’s fiscal reforms as a source of significant distress, arguing that the focus has shifted away from the people’s quality of life. “The Nigerian worker — the teacher, the nurse, the factory hand, the civil servant, the artisan — has been the primary victim of an administration that, by all observable evidence, is far more interested in increasing the revenue at its disposal than in improving the lives of the citizens it governs,” he remarked.

The former Vice-President further criticized the execution of the fuel subsidy removal, labeling it “recklessly executed” despite acknowledging its eventual necessity. He noted that while the policy has allegedly saved the federation trillions of naira, these savings have failed to translate into tangible benefits or relief for the public. Abubakar emphasized that the resulting surge in the cost of living has left workers to endure “sweat and toil” with little to show for their resilience. While honoring the dignity of labor, his message served as a sharp rebuke of the current economic direction, calling for a governance approach that prioritizes the dignity and survival of the Nigerian workforce.

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