The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the immediate reversal of the price of Premium Motor Spirit, fondly called petrol, and the 250 per cent hike in electricity tariff in the country.

The Star had reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail stations across the country, on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, adjusted their pump price, selling petrol at N855 as against N617 per litre.

The federal government later said no directive was issued to the NNPCL to increase the price of petrol.

Speaking on the development, the NLC, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, accused the federal government of betraying labour leaders and Nigerian workers by cowing the leaders into accepting N70,000 as a new minimum wage to avoid an increase in the price of petroleum product.

Ajaero noted that contrary to the agreement reached with President Bola Tinubu, the federal government had gone ahead to increase the price without even implementing the new wage which, he said, would not be able to sustain most families due to the hyperinflation in the country.

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.

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“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 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.

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“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.”

The NLC President added: “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.

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“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; 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.”

The Star