The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) said it feels betrayed by the Federal Government following the latest increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit otherwise known as petrol by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited on Tuesday.
In a statement by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC explained that one of the reasons it accepted N70, 000 as new minimum wage was the understanding with the government that there would be no increase in the price of petrol.
According to Ajaero, when President Bola Tinubu gave the Labour leaders the alternatives to choose from either N250,000 as minimum wage (subject to the rise of the pump price between N1,500 per litre and N2,000 per litre and N70,000 (at old pms rates), they opted for N70, 000 because they could not bring themselves to accept further punishment on Nigerians.
The NLC President urged the government to reverse the latest increase nationwide.
Ajaero said the organs of the NLC would meet in the coming days and decide on its next move.
He said: “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) 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 cheer leaders 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/EndBadGovernance protests.
“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.”