The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday, September 4, 2024, said it felt betrayed by the Federal Government’s increase of the new price of petrol across the country.
NLC’s president, Joe Ajaero in a statement issued shortly after the NNPC increased its pump price between N568 – N617 per litre to N855 – N897 per litre, depending on the area, recalled the meeting the leadership of the congress had with the president.
The labour leader said that President Bola Tinubu had given the NLC the options of either N250,000 minimum wage and a rise of pump price between N1,500 and N2,000 or N70,000 minimum wage and retaining pump price of N568 – N617 per litre.
Mr Ajaero said, “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.
“Yet, when we told the government that it’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy contradictions was patently faulty and would not last, its front-row cheerleaders sneered at us, saying we did not understand basic economics.
“But if truth be told, this act of betrayal is consistent,’” he said.
The NLC president further called for the immediate reversal of the new price increase in the pump price of petrol across the country.
Mr Ajaero also recalled the assurances given to the Congress by the leadership of the National Assembly on the reversal of the 250 per cent electricity tariff hike.
He said, instead of the promised reversal, the rate has since been jerked up further, putting more Nigerians and businesses in jeopardy.
In addition to the reversal of the increased price of petrol pump price and electricity tariff, the NLC called for the release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted for participating or purportedly participating in the recent #Endbadgovernance protest.
Mr Ajaero said the Congress also demanded a halt in the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped-up charges.
“The Congress demand a stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
“We also demand an end to policies that engender hunger and insecurity as well as a halt to the government’s culture of terror, fear and lying,” he said.
Mr Ajaero said in the coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress would be meeting to make appropriate decisions which would be made public.
