President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended his administration’s pension reform efforts, accusing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and previous administrations of failing to settle pension obligations while privatizing public assets.

Speaking on Thursday during a meeting with a delegation from Borno State at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu said his government is committed to correcting what he described as years of neglect affecting thousands of retired public workers.

The delegation, led by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, visited the President following the endorsement of Vice President Kashim Shettima for a second term ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Tinubu Criticizes Past Privatization Exercise

During his remarks, Tinubu took aim at critics of his administration, referring to the privatization programme carried out between 1999 and 2007 under the administration in which Atiku Abubakar served as Vice President.

According to the President, several government-owned enterprises were privatized without adequately addressing the pension and retirement benefits of workers.

Tinubu said those now criticizing his government failed to settle pension obligations when they had the opportunity to do so.

“They privatized government assets but left pension liabilities behind. We are now cleaning up that mess,” the President said.

Although Tinubu did not mention Atiku by name in every part of his speech, his comments were widely interpreted as a response to recent criticism from the former Vice President and opposition figures.

FG Pays N39.6 Billion Pension Arrears

The President highlighted his administration’s recent payment of N39.6 billion in pension arrears to more than 24,000 retirees from several defunct federal government agencies.

The beneficiaries include former employees of:

• Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL)
• Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTEL)
• Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)
• Other privatized or liquidated government enterprises

The payments were made to clear long-standing pension liabilities that had remained unresolved for years after the organizations ceased operations or were privatized.

The Federal Government says the settlement demonstrates its commitment to protecting retirees and restoring confidence in public sector welfare.

Supporters Praise Move

Supporters of the Tinubu administration described the payment as a significant step toward addressing historical injustices suffered by retired workers.

They argue that many pensioners had waited years for their entitlements and that the settlement reflects the government’s commitment to social welfare and accountability.

Some analysts also noted that resolving pension obligations could improve public confidence in future government reforms.

Critics Recall Tinubu’s Previous Political Alliance

However, critics questioned Tinubu’s attempt to distance himself from previous administrations, pointing out that he maintained political alliances with Atiku Abubakar at various stages of Nigeria’s democratic history.

Opposition voices argue that pension reforms require long-term institutional solutions rather than political blame.

Despite the political exchanges, thousands of retirees have welcomed the payment, describing it as overdue relief after years of uncertainty.

With preparations for the 2027 elections gradually gathering momentum, pension reforms and economic management are expected to remain major issues in the national political conversation.

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