President Bola Tinubu has taken a sharp swipe at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of neglecting the pension liabilities of workers affected by the privatization of government-owned enterprises during his time in office.
Speaking in Abuja during a meeting with stakeholders from the North-East—who were on a thank-you visit following the re-nomination of Vice President Kashim Shettima as his 2027 running mate—Tinubu framed the issue as a matter of social justice and stability.
“Nigerians are not asking for too much. They want simple stability and social welfare,” the President said, before directly addressing pensioners present at the gathering. “I hope you’re receiving your pension.”
In a thinly veiled reference to the former Vice President, who chaired the National Council on Privatization (NCP) during the Obasanjo administration, Tinubu alleged that his opponent’s past policies left a trail of financial hardship for retirees.
“If I can go political, somebody among my prospective opponents privatized government investment in public entities but forgot to pay the pension,” Tinubu stated. “I’m clearing the pensioners now; I am clearing the mess they created.”
While the President did not mention Atiku by name, the reference was clear. As Vice President between 1999 and 2007, Atiku oversaw the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), which managed the sale of several state-owned assets—a process that has long been a point of contention regarding the terminal benefits of displaced workers.
The President’s remarks signal a heating up of the political atmosphere as the 2027 election cycle approaches, with the administration positioning itself as a corrective force against the perceived failures of previous leadership.
