Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying it has brought “renewed hardship” to Nigerians instead of the “renewed hope” it promised.
Gatekeepers News reports that in his 2026 Workers’ Day message, Atiku said many Nigerians were inspired by Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to vote in the 2023 elections, but argued that “what was refreshed was not the fortunes of the Nigerian people, but the pockets of those in power.”
He described Nigerian workers as the primary victims of policies that, in his view, prioritise revenue generation over citizens’ welfare.
On fuel subsidy removal, Atiku said the policy was necessary but poorly implemented.
“Let me be clear: the removal of the fuel subsidy was, in principle, a policy that many, including myself, had long advocated. The subsidy had become a fiscal haemorrhage that enriched cabal middlemen while denying the government of the resources needed for development. Its removal was necessary and overdue.”
However, he criticised the manner of its execution, saying it was done without adequate preparation.
“The price of fuel skyrocketed. Transportation costs doubled and tripled overnight. The cost of food and basic goods hit the roof. The Nigerian worker… was suddenly confronted with a cost of living that made mere survival feel like a luxury.”
Atiku argued that a responsible government would have introduced safety nets and transition plans before removing the subsidy, adding that “Tinubu’s administration did none of that, but simply removed the subsidy and left the Nigerian worker to drown.”
He also questioned how savings from the subsidy removal have been utilised.
“Trillions were ostensibly saved, but nothing gained by the people… Nigerians… were right to ask: Where has this saved money gone? What has been done with it to improve their lives?”
Atiku alleged that a significant portion of the funds is being used to finance the controversial $11 billion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which he claimed was not subjected to due process.
“This is not governance, it is the brazen conversion of public resources for private enrichment,” he said.
The former vice president also faulted the administration’s foreign exchange policy, saying the decision to float the naira triggered a sharp decline in its value.
“The manner in which it was done… caused the Naira to enter a catastrophic free fall… Whatever purchasing power had survived years of inflation was wiped out.”
He said the impact has made essential goods, including medicines and food, unaffordable, while forcing some businesses to shut down or scale back operations.
On taxation, Atiku accused the government of placing additional burdens on already struggling citizens.
“Increasing taxes during an economic crisis… is not fiscal responsibility… The Tinubu administration has chosen the opposite approach: squeeze the people harder, regardless of their capacity to pay.”
He further criticised the government’s borrowing pattern, saying increased revenues and loans have not translated into improved infrastructure or public services.
“Nigerians are owed a full and transparent account of where all this money has gone,” he said, adding that “the arithmetic simply does not add up.”
Atiku reiterated that his 2023 campaign proposed a $10 billion economic stimulus plan aimed at creating jobs and boosting key sectors.
“It would have lifted millions out of poverty… and ignited the kind of economic activity that grows the tax base organically.”
He contrasted this with the current administration’s approach, which he said prioritises large projects over people-focused interventions.
Concluding, Atiku urged Nigerian workers to recognise that their hardship is a direct result of policy choices.
“Nigeria’s working people did not cause this crisis… They voted for hope, and that hope was taken from them. Nigeria can and must do better.”
