Former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar has commended Nigerian teachers for their commitment to duty and criticised President Bola Tinubu over the worsening economic hardship confronting teaching professionals across the country.
In a Teachers’ Day message issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Monday, Atiku also questioned Tinubu’s ability to understand the struggles of teachers, alleging that the president could not name a single teacher who taught him or a classmate who sat beside him.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress said his own experience had made him appreciate the role teachers played in shaping his life, recalling teachers from his early years in Jada who, he said, recognised his potential when he was still a young orphan.
“I still remember the names and faces of my early teachers in Jada, who saw potential in a young orphan when few others did. They taught me arithmetic and grammar, but they also gave me a future,” Atiku said.
He added that the inability of some leaders to identify with the experiences of teachers was reflected in policies that had failed to adequately address their welfare.
“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 argued that teachers remained central to national development, insisting that their contribution went beyond classroom instruction.
“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.
“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,” he said.
He criticised governments that celebrate teachers on October 5 but fail to provide the conditions necessary for them to live and work with dignity.
“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 said.
Atiku, who founded the American University of Nigeria, said his experience in the education sector had reinforced his belief in the importance of teachers to the country’s future.
He described teachers as builders of confidence, knowledge and opportunity, saying Nigeria could not achieve sustainable development while neglecting those responsible for educating its children.
The former vice‑president promised that, if elected, his administration would prioritise policies aimed at reducing the cost of living, supporting decent employment and improving the welfare of teachers and other working Nigerians.
“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 also apologised to Nigerian teachers and citizens on behalf of what he described as a leadership that had failed to make their welfare a priority.
“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.
Teachers’ Day, observed annually on October 5, provides an opportunity to recognise the contribution of teachers to education and national development, while also drawing attention to challenges affecting the profession, including remuneration, working conditions and access to teaching resources.
Atiku urged Nigerians to match tributes to teachers with concrete action, stressing that respect for the profession must be reflected in policies that improve their living and working conditions.
About the reporter
Dirisu Yakubu is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience covering parliament, politics and development issues. He specialises in reporting that provides context and insight into legislative and governance matters.
