Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of ‘callous indifference’ and ‘utter disdain’ for workers’ welfare.
This, he said, particularly regarding the non-payment of outstanding wage awards to federal civil servants.
He disclosed this in a statement issued via his X page on Sunday.
Atiku stated that the removal of fuel subsidies on Tinubu’s inauguration day ‘triggered an economic avalanche that has since buried the average Nigerian under the weight of inflation, hunger, and despair.’
He highlighted that the government’s promise of a wage award as a temporary measure to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal has become a ‘broken covenant.’
Atiku noted that it took the Tinubu administration a ‘staggering 10 months’ to finalise a new minimum wage figure.
Consequently, the Federal Government (FG) now owes federal workers 10 months of wage award arrears.
However, only six months have been disbursed, following what Atiku described as ‘unfulfilled assurances and avoidable delays.’
He calculated that the remaining four months amount to N140,000 per worker (N35,000 monthly), a critical relief still withheld amidst severe economic hardship.
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While acknowledging that several state governments have demonstrated commendable responsibility in managing labour affairs, Atiku sharply contrasted this with the FG’s approach.
Furthermore, Atiku criticised the government for allegedly resorting to ‘tyranny and suppression of free speech’ instead of engaging in dialogue or fulfilling its commitments.
He cited the recent arrest and detention of labour activist Comrade Andrew Uche Emelieze, who was reportedly apprehended for attempting to organise a peaceful protest to demand the overdue wage awards.
“His only ‘crime’ was speaking up for workers abandoned by the state”, Atiku stated.
He demanded the “immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Emelieze’, declaring his continued detention an ‘affront to democracy, a slap in the face of every Nigerian worker, and a chilling reminder of the authoritarian drift of the Tinubu administration.’
Atiku said Nigerian workers will not be silenced, intimidated, or forgotten.
He reiterated that the economic hardship is real, the hunger is biting, and the government must act, not repress.
