The leadership of the National Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its betrayal towards the recent hike in fuel prices, describing the development as
The leadership of the National Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its betrayal towards the recent hike in fuel prices, describing the development as a betrayal of the pledge hitherto made by the Federal Government during negotiations.
In July, the federal government approved N70,000 as minimum wage for the nation’s workers after weeks of favourable and unfavourable negotiations.
The decision was reached under conditions, a part of which demanded that the price of fuel maintain the status quo at the time the sum of N70,000 was reached, to avoid defeating the purpose of easing the hardship in the country.
However, with Tuesday’s hike in fuel price, pegged at N897 per litre, the NLC has demanded an immediate reversal as contained in a statement signed by Joe Ajaero.
The statement read partly: “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 the 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) 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 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 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”, noting that it was such a situation that led to the End-Hunger/End Bad Governance protests in August.
The NLC added, “Rather than make amends, the 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 the government’s agenda of muzzling lawful dissent. In brazen pursuit, they have defamed and libelled not a few individuals.”
It is on this premise that the NLC reiterated its demands including 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 and Halt the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped up charges.
Other demands include reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity; Stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment; End to policies that engender hunger and insecurity and Halt to the government’s culture of terror, fear and lying.
The NLC further noted that it stands resolute with the people and would neither be distracted nor intimidated by the government or its security agencies.
