Labour Leaders Accuse Government of Betrayal, Demand Urgent Measures to Address Economic Hardship
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised concerns that the recent hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, has negated the anticipated benefits of the proposed N70,000 new national minimum wage.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop titled “Minimum Wage Implementation Workshop, Southern Zone,” held in Lagos on Thursday, NLC President Joe Ajaero stated that the organised labour was misled by President Bola Tinubu into accepting the N70,000 minimum wage in order to prevent an increase in petrol prices.
Ajaero revealed that the NLC would engage with the federal government to discuss how workers could cope with the recent economic challenges posed by the new fuel price. He emphasized that the government must urgently address the widespread hunger, poverty, and frustration affecting Nigerians.
“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. Those things have paid off because while we are facing those allegations, this issue of pump price has remained,” Ajaero said, expressing disappointment over the government’s actions.
Reflecting on the negotiations that led to the agreement on the new minimum wage, Ajaero accused the government of betrayal, reiterating that the labour union had been deceived into accepting the wage proposal.
“I repeat, we were betrayed by Mr. President. Some of you here were at the meeting when Mr. President said, ‘Ajaero, you are the problem,’” he stated, calling for immediate action to prevent further deterioration of the living conditions for Nigerian workers.
The NLC workshop, themed “Strategies for Effective Implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act,” aims to develop practical approaches for the successful rollout of the new minimum wage, even as labour leaders continue to voice their dissatisfaction over the government’s handling of the fuel price situation.
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