The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused President Bola Tinubu of betraying both the labor movement and the Nigerian people with the recent increase in petrol prices and the ongoing scarcity across the country.
Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, expressed his dismay on Tuesday over the confusion surrounding the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, describing the situation as “traumatic and nightmarish.”
Read Also: Cabals Suffer ‘Attack’ As Otedola Reacts To Dangote Refinery Petrol Roll Out
Ajaero recalled that during negotiations over the minimum wage, Tinubu had offered the choice of either a wage increase to N250,000 with higher fuel prices or a lower wage of N70,000 with stable fuel prices.
The NLC chose the latter based on the assurance that fuel prices would remain unchanged.
Read Also: BREAKING: NNPCL Raises Petrol Pump Price To ₦897 Per Litre
The NLC president criticized the government for failing to honor this promise, noting that instead of reversing the price increase, rates have continued to rise, exacerbating hardships for Nigerians and businesses alike.
He said, “We recall vividly when Mr President gave us the devil’s alternatives to choose from: either N250,000 as minimum wage (subject to the rise of the pump price between N1,500 and N2,000) and N70,000 (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 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 government that it’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy contradictions was patently faulty and would not last, it’s front row cheer leaders sneered at us, saying we did not understand basic economics.
“But if truth be told, this act of betrayal is consistent with the character of this government. We recall the assurances we were given by the leadership of the National Assembly on the 250% tariff hike, that it had been dealt with and there was no need to openly engage the Minister of Power who was at that meeting.
“Instead of the promised reversal, the rate has since been jerked up further putting more Nigerians and businesses in jeopardy. 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/End Bad Governance protests.”
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
