The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused President Bola Tinubu of betraying both the labor movement and the entire nation with the recent hike in petrol prices and the resulting scarcity across the country.
NLC President Joe Ajaero, speaking on Tuesday in response to the ongoing confusion surrounding the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, described the situation as “traumatic and nightmarish.”
Ajaero recalled that during negotiations over the minimum wage, President Tinubu offered the NLC and TUC leadership a choice between a N250,000 minimum wage with an increase in fuel prices or a N70,000 minimum wage with stable fuel prices.
The labor unions opted for the latter to avoid further burdening Nigerians.
However, Ajaero criticized the government for failing to keep its promises, noting that instead of reversing the price hike as assured, the rates have been further increased.
He warned that this situation is already jeopardizing the livelihoods of many Nigerians and businesses.
He said, “We recall vividly when Mr President gave us the devil’s alternatives to choose from: either N250,000 as minimum wage (subject to the rise of the pump price between N1,500 and N2,000) and N70,000 (at old pms rates), we opted for the latter because we could not bring ourselves to accept further punishment on Nigerians.
“But here we are, barely one month after and with government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain. It is both traumatic and nightmarish.”
Ajaero also criticized the government’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy issue, stating, “Yet, when we told government that it’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy contradictions was patently faulty and would not last, it’s front row cheer leaders sneered at us, saying we did not understand basic economics.”
“But if truth be told, this act of betrayal is consistent with the character of this government. We recall the assurances we were given by the leadership of the National Assembly on the 250% tariff hike, that it had been dealt with and there was no need to openly engage the Minister of Power who was at that meeting,” he further lamented.
Despite promises of reversal, the government has instead raised rates even higher, leaving more Nigerians and businesses in dire straits.
Ajaero concluded that the government’s harsh market policies have pushed Nigeria to its lowest point, sparking the End-Hunger/End Bad Governance protests.
