Atiku Challenges Tinubu on Subsidy Savings Amid ASUU Strike

Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, has called on President Bola Tinubu to explain the savings from the removal of the petrol subsidy, particularly in light of a renewed threat of a nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Atiku pointed out that since the subsidy removal, Nigerians have faced significant increases in transportation, food, and energy costs, while public universities remain underfunded.

ASUU warned of a potential strike following an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council on September 5, citing unresolved agreements and unpaid entitlements, including three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries from the previous administration. Although the Tinubu administration has paid four months of the withheld salaries, ASUU insists on the payment of the outstanding balance.

Atiku criticized the Tinubu administration for justifying the subsidy removal by promising to allocate resources to education and essential services, questioning the deployment of those funds amid the ongoing crisis in universities.