The Nigeria Labour Congress has branded President Bola Tinubu a betrayer following the recent significant hike in fuel prices.
President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, made the reservations on Tuesday, saying part of the reasons why the union accepted the N70,000 minimum wage was as a result of an understanding that there would be no further increase in the price of fuel.
Nigerians woke up to a sudden increase in the price of fuel
from the official price of N617 to N897 per litre on Tuesday.
The development, which has thrown many Nigerians into
confusion, prompted a reaction from the labour union, which has been entangled
in a terrorism-related crisis with the Nigeria Police Force.
Ajaero threatened that in the coming days, the appropriate
organs of NLC will be meeting to make appropriate decisions which will be made
public.
Ajaero’s statement reads in full: “We are filled with a deep
sense of betrayal as the federal government clandestinely increases the pump
price of PMS. One of the reasons for accepting N70,000 as national minimum wage
was the understanding that the pump price of PMS would not be increased even as
we knew that N70,000 was not sufficient.
“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) or 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 its 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
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.
“Rather than make amends, government arrested and hounded
into detention some of those who took part and some of those who had nothing to
do with these protests, charging them with criminal conspiracy, subversion,
treasonable felony, terrorism financing and cybercrime with an intent to
overthrow the government of President Tinubu.
“The police and other security agencies have since been on a
rampage terrorising the citizenry in pursuance of government’s agenda of
muzzling lawful dissent.
“In brazen pursuit, they have defamed and libelled not a few
individuals. They have gone as far as appropriating the statutory roles of the
Ministry of Labour and Employment in resolving trade dispute matters and issues
considered outside the jurisdiction of the security agencies.
“That the government is on rampage in the face of stifling
conditions of living is an understatement but we promise Nigerians that we at
the Nigeria Labour Congress will not be cowed into submission. Together with
civil society, we brought about this democracy when some of the actors in power
today were conspiring with the military on how to perpetuate their hold on
political power.
“When the State and the security forces picked on us in a
hybrid war, we had our suspicions. We knew they were up to something sinister
and needed to distract/divert our attention or possibly frighten or weaken us
before they came out with it so that we would not have a robust response.
“Now that the chickens have come to roost, we were right in
our suspicions. However, we want to let Nigerians know that the
clandestine/surreptitious increase in the pump price of PMS is the first among
the equally sinister policies government has up its sleeve.
“On our part, we stand resolute with the people and will
neither be distracted nor intimidated by the government or its security
agencies. We insist that government cannot criminalise protests or basic rights
in the domain of the citizenry. Accordingly, we demand the immediate reversal
of the latest increase in the pump of PMS across the country;
“Release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted on
the assumption of having participated in the recent protests; halt the
indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped-up charges; and
reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity.”
“It should stop the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of
Labour and Employment; end policies that engender hunger and insecurity; and
halt to government’s culture of terror, fear and lying.
“We are guided by our belief in our country and the need to
secure and sustain its sovereignty, integrity and welfare of the people. In the
coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress will be meeting to take
appropriate decisions, which will be made public.”
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Since Adams oshiomole left as labour leader, we have not had the best on labour, subsequent labour leaders as performed very poor. Fuel has been increased since the inception of this govt. Labour did nothing as far as am concerned it was increased again nothing significant was done you strike when the iron is hot' give fed. Govt. Three or even one day cos' no prior notice was given each time they are increasing pump price. It's very unfortunate.
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