The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has voiced its strong sense of betrayal by the Federal Government following the latest increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
The price hike was implemented by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited on Tuesday, prompting an outcry from the labour union.
In a statement issued by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC explained that one of the key reasons it accepted a new minimum wage of ₦70,000 was based on an understanding with the government that there would be no further increases in the price of petrol.
Ajaero disclosed that during negotiations, President Bola Tinubu presented the labour leaders with two options: a minimum wage of ₦250,000, which would be contingent on a rise in the pump price of petrol to between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 per litre, or a wage of ₦70,000 with the petrol price remaining unchanged.
The NLC opted for the latter, citing their inability to support further financial hardship on Nigerians.
“We are filled with a deep sense of betrayal as the federal government clandestinely increases the pump price of PMS. One of the reasons for accepting ₦70,000 as the national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of PMS would not be increased, even as we knew that ₦70,000 was not sufficient,” Ajaero said.
The NLC President urged the government to reverse the latest price hike and announced that the union’s leadership would convene in the coming days to decide on their next course of action.
Reflecting on the negotiations, Ajaero stated, “We recall vividly when Mr President gave us the devil’s alternatives to choose from: either ₦250,000 as minimum wage (subject to the rise of the pump price between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000) and ₦70,000 (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 the 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 further criticized the government’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy issue, labeling it as “patently faulty” and unsustainable.
He expressed disappointment that previous assurances from the National Assembly, particularly regarding a 250% electricity tariff hike, had not been fulfilled, with rates continuing to rise instead.
“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/EndBadGovernance protests,“ Ajaero said.
“We are guided by our belief in our 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.”
