Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has publicly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government for failing to pay federal workers four months of wage awards and for the arrest of a labour activist advocating for those payments. Atiku linked the economic difficulties facing Nigerians to the government’s removal of the fuel subsidy on Tinubu’s inauguration day, describing it as a “thoughtless” act that worsened inflation and hunger.
Atiku pointed out that the government took 10 months to settle on a ₦35,000 monthly wage award for federal civil servants but has only paid six months of the allowance, leaving four months unpaid, which totals ₦140,000 per worker.
He condemned the government’s “utter disdain for workers’ welfare” and praised some state governments for their more responsible handling of workers’ issues. Atiku also criticized the detention of Andrew Emelieze, who was arrested for trying to organize a peaceful protest demanding payment of the wage arrears.
“Suppressing free speech instead of dialogue is unacceptable. Emelieze’s only crime was standing up for workers abandoned by the state,” Atiku said.
He called for the immediate release of Emelieze, describing his detention as “an affront to democracy” and a reminder of the government’s authoritarian drift. Atiku warned that workers’ voices would not be silenced despite government repression.