Tinubu Accuses Atiku of Leaving ‘Privatization Mess,’ Says His Government Is Clearing Unpaid Pensions

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of leaving behind unpaid pension liabilities following the privatization of public enterprises during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, saying his government is now settling the backlog owed to affected retirees.

The President made the remarks on Thursday during a courtesy visit by governors, ministers, lawmakers, traditional rulers, political stakeholders, and community leaders from Nigeria’s North-East at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The delegation, led by Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, visited the State House to thank Tinubu for renominating Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election and to reaffirm the region’s support for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.

Addressing the gathering, which included pensioners, Tinubu said his administration remained committed to improving the welfare of Nigerians while correcting what he described as mistakes inherited from previous governments.

“Nigerians are not asking for too much. Simple stability and social welfare. I hope you’re receiving your pension. If I can go political, somebody among my prospective opponents privatized government investment in public entities but forgot to pay the pensions. I’m clearing the pensioners now, so clearing the mess they created,” the President said.

Although Tinubu did not mention Atiku by name, his remarks were widely interpreted as referring to the former vice president, who served from 1999 to 2007 and played a prominent role in the economic team that oversaw Nigeria’s privatization programme during the Obasanjo administration.

The privatization programme remains one of the most debated economic reforms in Nigeria’s history. While supporters argue it attracted private investment and reduced government control of inefficient public enterprises, critics have long alleged that some state assets were sold below market value, leading to job losses, unpaid salaries, and unresolved pension obligations in some privatized companies.

The latest remarks come amid escalating political tensions between Tinubu and Atiku ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a related development, the Presidency has criticized reports that Atiku engaged Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., under a reported 12-month contract worth $1.2 million.

According to reports, the firm has circulated U.S. Department of Justice documents relating to Tinubu’s 1993 civil forfeiture case, in which approximately $460,000 was forfeited in a civil proceeding involving funds that U.S. authorities alleged were linked to narcotics trafficking. Tinubu has consistently denied wrongdoing and has never been convicted of any criminal offence in connection with the case.

Reacting to the reports, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the reported lobbying effort as an attempt to internationalize Nigeria’s domestic politics, arguing that political disputes should be resolved within the country’s democratic institutions.

Onanuga also referenced previous U.S.-related allegations involving Atiku, including reports connected to investigations surrounding former U.S. Congressman William Jefferson and a 2010 U.S. Senate inquiry into suspicious financial transactions involving offshore companies. Atiku has repeatedly denied wrongdoing regarding those allegations.

The presidential spokesman further defended Tinubu’s criticism of the privatization programme, describing aspects of the exercise carried out during the Obasanjo administration as deeply flawed. He alleged that some national assets were transferred to politically connected individuals at undervalued prices, leaving many workers with unpaid salaries and pension entitlements.

The exchange marks the latest escalation in the growing political rivalry between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition, with Atiku emerging as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

It also comes amid controversy surrounding a July 6, 2026, letter attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump praising Tinubu’s efforts to combat terrorism and attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria. While the Presidency has maintained that the letter is genuine, opposition figures have questioned both its authenticity and interpretation.

Despite the increasingly heated political exchanges, the Tinubu administration says it remains focused on implementing economic reforms, improving national security, and clearing inherited financial obligations, including outstanding pension arrears.

As of the time of filing this report, Atiku Abubakar’s camp had not issued a detailed response to Tinubu’s latest remarks on privatization and unpaid pensions.