The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed deep concern over the recent hike in petrol prices.
The NLC claims that the increase has severely eroded the benefits of the newly proposed N70,000 minimum wage, which is yet to be implemented.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made these remarks during the opening of a two-day workshop on the implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act in Lagos.
Ajaero stated that organised labour was deceived by President Bola Tinubu into accepting the new minimum wage to avert an increase in petrol prices.
The NLC leader lamented that Nigerians are currently facing immense hardship, with poverty, hunger, and frustration on the rise.
He urged the government to address these pressing issues before the situation becomes unbearable for the Nigerian populace.
While explaining the discussions that led to the N70,000 minimum wage agreement, Ajaero disclosed that President Tinubu had used diversionary tactics to distract labour.
“There is a tactic to distract our attention, to call us names, level allegations against us over cybercrime, financing terrorism, sponsoring terrorism, and the rest,” Ajaero said.
He expressed that these allegations distracted organised labour, allowing the petrol price issue to persist without a solution.
Ajaero repeated that labour felt betrayed by President Tinubu, despite the government’s denials.
“I repeat, we were betrayed by Mr. President,” Ajaero insisted, reiterating what had occurred during negotiations with the government.
Ajaero described a specific encounter where Tinubu pressured the labour leaders, saying, “Mr. President said, Ajaero, you are the problem.”
According to Ajaero, Tinubu offered two choices—either an increase in minimum wage to N250,000 or a sharp hike in petrol prices.
However, the NLC rejected both options, fearing the effects on all Nigerians.
Ajaero shared how Tinubu gave them an ultimatum during the negotiations, insisting that the NLC must decide within an hour.
The NLC, however, requested a week to deliberate on the proposal.
After a week, labour returned with a response, stating that neither option was acceptable.
“We told Mr. President, no, we can’t allow you to increase fuel prices because that will affect all Nigerians, and even the N250,000 won’t be useful to us,” Ajaero recounted.
Ajaero also mentioned that Tinubu had suggested funding a trip for labour leaders to visit West African countries where petrol prices are even higher than in Nigeria.
The president cited examples of neighbouring countries like Cameroon, where fuel costs are much higher, despite these nations not having refineries.
However, the NLC rejected the offer, fearing public backlash and accusations of being bribed by the government.
“We equally said no because Nigerians will say they have given us money,” Ajaero explained.
Upon their return to negotiations after a week’s break, the NLC insisted that they were not interested in further discussions about fuel price increases.
Instead, they wanted to focus solely on the minimum wage issue.
The N70,000 minimum wage, which eventually emerged from the negotiations, was still viewed as insufficient by some members of the NLC.
Ajaero admitted that even the new minimum wage might not adequately address the hardships faced by Nigerian workers.
He disclosed that the private sector, alongside state and federal governments, resisted the proposed wage increase.
This resistance from employers caused significant tension during the negotiations, leading to multiple walkouts by labour representatives.
The NLC president revealed that private sector employers were particularly tough during the meetings, refusing to budge on the wage issue.
“The private sector employers in our meeting gave us a tough time,” Ajaero revealed.
