News Editor
By Edwin Philip
The Nigerian Labour , NLC, has decried what they described as cladestine increment in the pump price of Premium motor Spirit, PMS, in a clear violation of one of the reasons for both parties settling for N70,000 as national minimum wage, as the understanding was that the pump price of pms would not be increased even as they knew that N70,000 was not sufficient
In a press release personal signed by NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and sent to the media, stated ” 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”.
According Ajaero, it is both traumatic and nightmarish, barely one month after and with government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, they are confronted by a reality they cannot explain, as they clearly 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 them, saying they 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 NLC recalled that the combined effects of government’s aggressive right -wing market policies brought Nigerians and Nigeria to their all-time low and led to the End-Hunger/End Bad Governance protests and which the government has not learnt from by making amends the 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 cyber crime with an intent to overthrow the government of President Tinubu.
They accused the police and other security agencies of pursuing government’s agenda of muzzling lawful dissenting voices, by going on rampage, terrorising the citizenry in In brazen pursuit, they have defamed and libelled not a few individuals, going 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 a
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” the NLC stated.
Adding that the suspected some sinister moves by the government and the security forces, when the began what they described as a hybrid war just to distract/divert their attention or possibly frighten or weaken the organised labour before they came out with it so that Labour would not have a robust response.
Adding that Now that they chickens have come to roost, they were right in their suspicions. However, NLC 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”.
The NLC however demander 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, 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 government’s culture of terror, fear and lying.
“We guided by our belief in our country and the need to secure and sustain its sovereignty, integrity and welfare of the people”.
The release has it that In the coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress will be meeting to take appropriate decisions which will be made public.
