LAGOS, Nigeria — The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has accused President Bola Tinubu of betraying organized labour over the recent hike in petrol prices, which the union says has eroded the benefits of the yet-to-be-implemented N70,000 national minimum wage.
The NLC made the accusations on Thursday, September 19, 2024, during the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop in Lagos on the “Minimum Wage Implementation Workshop, Southern Zone.”
Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the minimum wage agreement and the subsequent rise in fuel prices, which have exacerbated the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
Ajaero stated that the NLC had been misled into accepting the N70,000 minimum wage in exchange for halting further increases in the price of petrol, a commitment that has not been upheld.
“There is a tactic to distract our attention… While we are facing those allegations, this issue of pump price has remained,” Ajaero said, referring to accusations made against organized labour, including financing terrorism and cybercrime.
He added, “I repeat, we were betrayed by Mr President. That statement we issued over our being betrayed is being denied by officials of the government. I am repeating it that we were betrayed.”
Ajaero provided a detailed account of the negotiations with President Tinubu, where the president allegedly pressured the union to accept the increase in fuel prices.
According to Ajaero, President Tinubu offered the NLC a choice between approving a N250,000 minimum wage or allowing a petrol price hike, giving the union just one hour to make a decision.
“We said no, Sir, Mr President; we can’t be holding our meeting here in your office. Let us take one week break and come back and report back to you,” Ajaero recounted.
He also expressed frustration over the deteriorating economic conditions and warned that continuing to raise fuel prices while adjusting salaries would lead to further instability.
“The N250,000 may not even be enough to buy fuel,” Ajaero added, stressing that higher salaries would do little to alleviate the burden on workers if petrol prices continued to climb.
The NLC also criticized the government’s proposal to fund a tour of West African countries for the union to observe regional fuel prices, which President Tinubu claimed were significantly higher than in Nigeria.
The president cited examples from Cameroon, where petrol is reportedly sold at N2,000 per litre. Ajaero, however, dismissed the idea, pointing out that the smuggling of Nigerian fuel across borders contributed to price disparities.
“On the adjourned date, we went there and told Mr President we are not here for an increase in pump price or negotiation. So let’s concentrate on the minimum wage,” Ajaero said, highlighting the difficulty of the negotiations and the pressures faced by the union from private sector employers and state governments.
The NLC president called on the government to urgently address the widespread suffering and economic hardship that have worsened since the petrol price hike. He warned that failure to act could escalate tensions across the country.
