In response to the most recent increase in petrol pump prices, NLC made this declaration in a statement released on Tuesday and signed by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero.

The administration of President Bola Tinubu is accused by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of violating the terms and circumstances that led to organised labor’s acceptance of the N70,000 New Minimum Wage.

In response to the most recent increase in petrol pump prices, NLC made this declaration in a statement released on Tuesday and signed by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero.

It clarified that the knowledge that the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) or fuel at the pump would not rise was the basis for accepting N70,000 as the national minimum wage, even though they knew that amount would not be adequate.

He continued, saying, “We are filled with a deep sense of betrayal as the federal government clandestinely increases the pump price of PMS.” The government has raised pump price in an inexplicable way, he continued, “barely one month after and with government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has raised the price of petrol at its filling stations to more than N850 per litre nationwide.

According to the report, the shops acted in accordance with an order from the NNPC management, which required an instant increase in fuel prices from N568 to N855.

But the NLC President called the development “traumatic and nightmarish” in a statement headed “We feel betrayed.”

President Tinubu presented them with the “devil’s alternatives to choose from, either N70,000 (at old PMS rates) or N250,000 as minimum wage (subject to the rise of the pump price between N1,500 and N2,000),” according to Ajaero.

He said that the organised labour chose to take the N70,000 because they could not take any further punishment for

He said, “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. “Yet, when we told government that it’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy contradictions was patently faulty and would not last, it’s front row cheer leaders sneered at us, saying we did not understand basic economics.” He regretted that President Tinubu’s administration has been consistently shown the character of a ‘betrayer’.

Citing instances, NLC President recalled 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”. He said, “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.

Instead of offering an apology, the government detained and harassed both participants in the protests and those who were not involved, accusing them of criminal conspiracy, subversion, treasonable felony, financing of terrorism, and cybercrime with the aim of overthrowing President Tinubu’s administration. “Since then, the police and other security agencies have been terrorising the populace in order to further the government’s agenda of stifling lawful dissent. In their blatant pursuit, they have defamed and libelled numerous people. They have even appropriated the statutory roles of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in order to settle trade dispute cases and other matters deemed outside the purview of the security agencies.

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 they 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

“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.” The NLC, however, demanded the immediate reversal of the latest increase in the pump price of PMS across the country. Other demands include: “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; reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity; “Stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment; End to policies that engender hunger and insecurity; and Halt to

Ajaero explained that their demands were guided by their belief in the 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,” he said.