The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticized the federal government's decision to increase the pump price of petrol, signalling potential action after upcoming meetings of its organs.
Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, stated that the union feels "a deep sense of betrayal" as the government "clandestinely" raised the fuel price. He explained that one of the reasons for accepting the N70,000 national minimum wage, although insufficient, was the understanding that petrol prices would not increase.
Ajaero recalled when President Tinubu presented "devil's alternatives" during minimum wage negotiations: either N250,000 minimum wage with a petrol price hike to N1,500-N2,000 per litre, or N70,000 minimum wage at old petrol rates. The NLC opted for the latter to avoid further hardship on Nigerians.
However, barely a month after the minimum wage agreement and before its implementation, the government has increased fuel prices, which Ajaero described as both "traumatic and nightmarish".
The NLC has set five demands, including the immediate reversal of the fuel price hike, the release of those arrested during recent protests, and an end to the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens. The union also called for a halt to the 250% electricity tariff hike, the hijacking of the Ministry of Labour's duties, and policies that breed hunger and insecurity.
Ajaero stated that in the coming days, the NLC's appropriate organs will meet to decide on appropriate actions, which will be made public. However, a presidential aide, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, has countered the NLC's claims, stating that no minimum wage concessions were made in exchange for a fuel price hike during meetings with labour leaders.
