The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed strong disapproval and feelings of betrayal over the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government’s decision to increase the fuel pump price, despite the understanding that the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) would remain unchanged as a condition for accepting the N70,000 New Minimum Wage.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero called for an immediate reversal to the old pump price, citing the government’s failure to honor the terms of the agreement. The NLC noted that the acceptance of the N70,000 minimum wage was predicated on the understanding that the fuel price would not be increased, acknowledging that the wage amount was already insufficient.
The NLC’s statement comes in response to reports that filling stations owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) have increased fuel prices to over N850 per liter, following a directive from NNPC management to raise the official price from N568 to N855. This move has sparked widespread concern and criticism from the NLC, which feels betrayed by the government’s actions.
But NLC President in a statement titled “we fill betrayed,” described the development as both “traumatic and nightmarish”.
Ajaero recalled how the President Tinubu gave them 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).”
According to him, the organised Labour opted for the N70,000 because they 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.”
“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.”
He regretted that President Tinubu’s administration has been consistent the character of “betrayal”.
Citing instances, NLC President recalled 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.
“Instead of the promised reversal, the rate has since been jerked up further putting more Nigerians and businesses in jeopardy.
“The combined effects of government’s ferocious right -wing market policies brought Nigerians and Nigeria to their all-time low and led to the End-Hunger/End Bad Governance protests.
“Rather than make amends, government arrested and hounded into detention some of those who took part and some of those who had nothing to do with these protests, charging them with criminal conspiracy, subversion, treasonable felony, terrorism financing and cyber crime with an intent to overthrow the government of President Tinubu.
“The police and other security agencies have since been on rampage terrorising the citizenry in pursuance of government’s agenda of muzzling lawful dissent. In brazen pursuit, they have defamed and libelled not a few individuals.
“They have gone as far as appropriating the statutory roles of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in resolving trade dispute matters and issues considered outside the jurisdiction of the security agencies.
“That the government is on rampage in the face of stifling conditions of living is an understatement but we promise Nigerians that we at the Nigeria Labour Congress will not be cowed into submission. Together with civil society, we brought about this democracy when some of the actors in power today were conspiring with the military on how to perpetuate their hold on political power.
“When the State and the security forces picked on us in a hybrid war, we had our suspicions. We knew they were up to something sinister and needed to distract/divert our attention or possibly frighten or weaken us before they came out with it so that we would not have a robust response.
“Now that they chickens have come to roost, we were right in our suspicions. However, we want to let Nigerians know that the clandestine/surreptitious increase in the pump price of pms is the first among the equally sinister policies government has up its sleeve.
“On our part, we stand resolute with the people and will neither be distracted nor intimidated by the government or its security agencies. We insist that government cannot criminalise protests or basic rights in the domain of the citizenry.”
The NLC, however, demanded immediate reversal of the latest increase in the pump price of PMS across the country.
Other demands include; “Release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted on the assumption of having participated in the recent protests;
“Halt the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped up charges; reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity;
“Stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment; End to policies that engender hunger and insecurity; and Halt to government’s culture of terror, fear and lying.”
Ajaero explained that their demands were guided by their belief in the country and the need to secure and sustain its sovereignty, integrity and welfare of the people.
“In the coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress will be meeting to take appropriate decisions which will be made public.”
