Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu while marking World Teachers’ Day, questioning the president’s ability to recall details of his early education.
Atiku also used the occasion to draw attention to the economic difficulties facing teachers and other Nigerian families, arguing that public appreciation of educators would mean little without policies that improve their living and working conditions.
The former vice president made his remarks in a statement issued on Monday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
While paying tribute to teachers, Atiku reflected on his own childhood education in Jada and said he still remembered some of the teachers who taught him.
“Of course, I appreciate Nigerian teachers. I am a product of their work and the education I received in their classrooms. 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,” he said.
The ADC candidate then turned his attention to Tinubu, using the president’s educational history as a point of criticism.
“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 remembering the people who contributed to a person’s formative years was particularly significant for anyone occupying political office.
“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,” Atiku said.
His comments come against the backdrop of continuing public interest in Tinubu’s educational records. In August 2026, reports on documents published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 elections said Tinubu’s submitted particulars included his university qualification but did not contain details of his primary and secondary education.
Atiku, however, devoted much of his World Teachers’ Day message to the economic pressures confronting educators.
He said teachers were dealing with higher expenses for food, transportation, housing and electricity at a time when household incomes were under pressure.
According to him, governments should go beyond issuing annual messages of appreciation and address the material conditions affecting teachers throughout the year.
“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. Respect must be reflected in fair conditions, reliable support and policies that make life affordable,” he said.
Atiku also expressed regret on behalf of what he described as a leadership that had not sufficiently prioritised the welfare of teachers.
He maintained that educators should receive tangible support rather than mere public recognition, adding that Nigerian families also needed policies capable of easing the pressure on household incomes.
Drawing from his own experience, Atiku said teachers had a lasting influence on the lives of their students by developing their confidence, knowledge and prospects.
He argued that Nigeria’s long-term development would remain difficult to achieve if educators were not adequately supported.
“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.
The ADC presidential candidate added that an administration led by him would pursue measures aimed at lowering the cost of living, expanding access to decent employment and helping Nigerians earn a dignified income from their work.
