Mr Ajaero explained that the increase contradicts the agreement with Mr Tinubu’s government on the national minimum wage, describing the increase as traumatic and nightmare.
Tinubu and Nigeria Labour Congress (NlC)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has tackled President Bola Tinubu over the astronomical hike in petrol prices, accusing the Nigerian leader of betrayal.
On Tuesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced an increase in petrol price, jerking up the pump price from N568 to N855 and N897.
However, in a statement, the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, expressed shock at the hike in the petrol pump price amid the current economic hardship.
Mr Ajaero explained that the increase contradicts the agreement with Mr Tinubu’s government on the national minimum wage, describing the increase as traumatic and nightmare.
He particularly recalled that members of the organised labour met with Mr Tinubu during the negotiation of the minimum wage of N250,000, and there was an agreement that the fuel price remained.
“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,” said Mr Ajaero.
The NLC president berated Mr Tinubu’s government for “consistent betrayal”, recalling that the National Assembly also assured labour unions of reversing the 250 per cent electricity tariff hike.
“But if truth be told, this act of betrayal is consistent with the character of this government,” said Mr Ajaero. “We recall the assurances we were given by the leadership of the National Assembly on the 250 per cent 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.”
He added, “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.”
On Tuesday, many commuters were stranded in the country’s major cities following the sudden increase in fuel prices, which also affected transport fares.
The fresh development came amid the lingering fuel scarcity in the country, even as Nigerians continued to battle hardship and rise in prices of staple foods.