By Charles Igwe
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed deep disappointment and a sense of betrayal over the recent clandestine increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the federal government. In a press statement released on September 3, 2024, the NLC decried the move, noting that one of the reasons it had reluctantly accepted the N70,000 national minimum wage was the government’s assurance that fuel prices would remain stable.
The NLC recalled a critical meeting where President Tinubu presented two options: a N250,000 minimum wage accompanied by a potential fuel price hike to between N1,500 and N2,000 per liter, or a N70,000 minimum wage with the promise of maintaining the old fuel price. The union chose the latter, aiming to avoid further financial strain on Nigerians.
However, just one month later, the NLC says it has been confronted with an unexplainable reality as the government has not only failed to begin payment of the new minimum wage but also surreptitiously raised fuel prices. The NLC described the situation as both “traumatic and nightmarish.”
The labour union emphasized that it had previously warned the government that its approach to resolving the fuel subsidy issue was flawed, but its concerns were dismissed by government officials. The NLC argued that the latest price hike is part of a pattern of betrayal, citing the government’s failure to reverse a recent 250% electricity tariff hike despite assurances from the National Assembly.
The NLC further criticized the government’s broader economic policies, which it claims have pushed Nigerians to the brink, leading to the recent End-Hunger/End Bad Governance protests. The union condemned the government’s response to the protests, which included arrests, detentions, and the leveling of serious charges such as criminal conspiracy, subversion, and treasonable felony against protesters and even uninvolved citizens.
The NLC accused the government of attempting to intimidate and distract the union from responding robustly to these developments. The union vowed not to be cowed into submission, reaffirming its commitment to standing with the Nigerian people against what it described as a “culture of terror, fear, and lying.”
In its demands, the NLC called for the immediate reversal of the fuel price hike, the release of those detained during the recent protests, an end to indiscriminate arrests, a rollback of the electricity tariff increase, and a cessation of policies that exacerbate hunger and insecurity in the country. The union also demanded that the government stop overstepping its boundaries by encroaching on the statutory roles of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The NLC concluded by reaffirming its belief in the country’s sovereignty and the welfare of its people. It announced that its leadership would be meeting in the coming days to decide on further actions, with the outcomes to be made public.
Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, signed the statement.
