FUEL PRICE INCREASE: We’ve been betrayed, says NLC President Ajaero

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed dismay over the increment in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also referred to as petrol, saying it is a betrayal of Nigerians, especially the working class.

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.”