The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned the recent increase in fuel prices, labeling it a profound betrayal of the Nigerian people, particularly the working class. This reaction comes after the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) raised the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N850 per litre, with private operators expected to sell at even higher rates.
In a statement on Tuesday, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero voiced the union’s dismay, citing an agreement reached with the federal government that there would be no further fuel price increases as a key reason for accepting the N70,000 minimum wage. Ajaero expressed that this latest move undermines that agreement and exacerbates the hardships faced by Nigerians.
“We are filled with a deep sense of betrayal as the federal government clandestinely increases the pump price of PMS,” Ajaero said. “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.”
Ajaero recalled that during negotiations, President Bola Tinubu had presented the union with two difficult choices: a minimum wage of N250,000 subject to a fuel price increase to between N1,500 and N2,000 per litre, or a N70,000 wage at the old PMS rates. The NLC chose the latter, fearing further economic strain on Nigerians. However, the government’s decision to increase fuel prices despite this agreement has left the union feeling betrayed.
“It is both traumatic and nightmarish,” Ajaero continued, emphasizing that the government’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy issues has been fundamentally flawed. He noted that the union’s warnings about the unsustainability of the government’s policies were dismissed, but recent developments have validated their concerns.
Ajaero also criticized the government’s response to the recent End-Hunger/End Bad Governance protests, where participants were arrested and charged with serious crimes such as treason and terrorism financing. He accused the government of using the security agencies to suppress lawful dissent and stifle basic rights, further exacerbating the difficult living conditions for many Nigerians.
“The combined effects of government’s ferocious right-wing market policies have brought Nigerians and Nigeria to their all-time low and led to the End-Hunger/End Bad Governance protests,” Ajaero stated. “Rather than make amends, the government arrested and hounded into detention some of those who took part and some who had nothing to do with these protests.”
The NLC President demanded the immediate reversal of the fuel price increase, the release of all detained protesters, a halt to the indiscriminate arrests and detentions of citizens on trumped-up charges, and a reversal of the 250% hike in electricity tariffs. He also called for an end to the government’s “culture of terror, fear, and lying.”
Ajaero concluded by reassuring Nigerians that the NLC remains committed to defending their rights and welfare. He promised that the union’s organs would meet soon to determine the appropriate actions to take in response to these developments, with their decisions to be made public in the coming days.
The NLC’s strong stance reflects growing discontent among Nigerians, particularly the working class, as they face rising costs of living amid economic uncertainty. The union’s forthcoming decisions could have significant implications for the government’s policies and the overall socio-political climate in the country.
