The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a scathing rebuke of President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of betraying the trust of Nigerians following the recent sharp increase in fuel prices.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja and signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the Labour Centre expressed profound disappointment and shock at the government’s decision to hike the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The NLC described the move as a “deep sense of betrayal,” particularly in light of previous agreements made with the government.
The Congress highlighted that one of the primary reasons for agreeing to the N70,000 national minimum wage was the understanding that the price of PMS would remain stable.
This agreement was meant to cushion the economic impact on workers and the general public. However, the NLC accused the government of reneging on this promise and implementing harsh market policies that have exacerbated the living conditions of Nigerians.
The statement also condemned the government’s actions against citizens, including the arrest and detention of protesters on what the NLC termed “baseless charges.”
The Congress criticized the government’s encroachment on the responsibilities of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, suggesting that such actions were undermining the ministry’s role in safeguarding workers’ rights.
“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 though we knew that N70,000 was not sufficient,” the NLC declared in its statement.
In response to the situation, the NLC made several demands, including the immediate reversal of the fuel price hike, the release of detained protesters, an end to indiscriminate arrests, a rollback of the 250% increase in electricity tariffs, and a halt to policies that contribute to widespread hunger and insecurity.
The Congress also called on the government to abandon what it described as a “culture of terror, fear, and deceit.”
The NLC vowed to stand in solidarity with the Nigerian people, asserting that it would not be intimidated by government actions or security forces.
The Labour Centre indicated that it would convene meetings in the coming days to determine its next course of action, with the outcomes to be made public.
This confrontation between the NLC and the government highlights the growing tension over economic policies and their impact on the everyday lives of Nigerians.
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