Renowned public affairs analyst, Mahdi Shehu, has criticized the Tinubu-led federal government for what he describes as sending demoralizing signals to Nigerian workers and students while lavishing huge cash rewards on footballers.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Shehu specifically referenced the government's generous financial rewards to the Super Falcons following their recent Women's Africa Cup of Nations victory.
"You pay a footballer ₦150 million in less than two months, but students are told to take loans to go to school. That same footballer may not even have completed their education," he stated.
The analyst drew a stark comparison between the treatment of athletes and other dedicated Nigerians serving the country, including military personnel. He shared an anecdote about a soldier stationed in Baga who expressed his desire for his son to pursue football rather than military service after witnessing the disparate treatment.
"I read a post by a soldier in Baga saying, 'My son will play football' — just because of how athletes are treated. Yet, this same soldier has dedicated his life to serving his country without ever receiving such recognition," Shehu lamented.
He characterized the sports industry as a lottery system where a select few benefit enormously while the majority are overlooked, creating what he sees as a problematic value system in Nigerian society.
Shehu challenged the federal government to demonstrate equal enthusiasm for academic achievements by recognizing a young girl from Yobe State who recently won first place in an international English competition in the United Kingdom.
"We are waiting to see what the government will do for that girl. If nothing is done, then it confirms that the Tinubu administration is waging a war against education. There's no excuse," he concluded.
This criticism comes amid ongoing debates about government priorities in resource allocation and recognition of various forms of national service and achievement.
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