Atiku pledges affordable living for teachers on World Teachers’ Day
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to pursue policies that will reduce the cost of living and improve teachers’ welfare, saying educators deserve more than tributes and ceremonial recognition.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, said this in a statement issued on Monday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, to mark the 2026 World Teachers’ Day.
He lamented that rising costs of food, transportation, rent and electricity were making it increasingly difficult for teachers to support their families while carrying out their responsibilities.
The former vice president said he remained grateful to his teachers in Jada, Adamawa State, who helped shape his future, recalling how they recognised his potential and equipped him with the knowledge to succeed.
“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.
Atiku expressed concern over reports of teachers walking long distances to work because of high transport fares and borrowing food to feed their families.
He said no country could rise above the quality of its teachers, stressing that their contributions must be recognised through policies that improve their welfare and make life more affordable.
According to him, government must move beyond celebrating teachers on special occasions and address the economic challenges confronting them throughout the year.
