As Nigerian workers worldwide commemorate International Workers Day, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asserted that no administration has inflicted harsher conditions upon Nigerian workers than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s regime.
In a statement issued on Tuesday to extend his greetings to Nigerian workers, the Waziri Adamawa lamented the failure of the current government to fulfil promises of wage increments, instead exacerbating the plight of workers with each passing policy decision.
Under the theme of this year’s Labour Day, “Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate,” Atiku pledged to champion the cause of Nigerian workers and urge the government to prioritize their welfare.
Reflecting on the historical struggle of Nigerian workers, Atiku highlighted their enduring fight against tyranny and poor governance, from the era of Pa. Michael Imoudu to contemporary leaders like Pascal Bafyau and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
He remarked, “No administration in our history has disregarded workers’ rights as flagrantly as this one. Daily, workers grapple with the uncertainty brought by skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.”
Atiku decried the contradictions surrounding the subsidy regime and the resulting frustration faced by Nigerians queuing at petrol stations across the nation. He criticized the government’s unilateral removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit without consulting workers’ representatives, citing it as emblematic of governmental ineptitude.
Furthermore, Atiku condemned the persistent increase in tariffs across various service sectors without addressing underlying corruption and inefficiencies, characterizing it as burdensome for ordinary Nigerians and subsidizing systemic flaws.
He lamented, “It seems that, in the eyes of the current federal government, managing our country’s economic landscape is akin to a chaotic laboratory experiment, with Nigerian workers bearing the brunt.”
Expressing solidarity with Nigerian workers for enduring the government’s disregard for far too long, Atiku extended his heartfelt greetings on this year’s Workers Day.
