Ajaero: Tinubu betrayed us over fuel pump price increase

As another strike looms

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of betraying the Nigerian workers over the recent fuel pump price increase.

Comrade Ajaero made the remarks in a press statement dated September 3, 2024, entitled “We feel betrayed”.

A liter of petrol officially sells for as much as NGN1,200 in some parts of the country.

Ajaero kicks

Ajaero regretted that the Nigerian Government led by President Tinubu “clandestinely” increased the pump price of PMS.

This is coming barely days after luring the union to accept N70,000 as national minimum wage.

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 government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain.

“It is both traumatic and nightmarish,” Ajaero lamented.

Patently faulty fuel subsidy contradictions

According to him, the “patently faulty” fuel subsidy contradictions depict a betrayal consistent with Tinubu government.

He stated further: “When we told government that it’s 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.

Banner placed by NLC on its X handle

“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.

“[They charged] 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.

“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.”

Stifling conditions of living

Ajaero noted that the Tinubu government is on rampage in the face of stifling conditions of living is an understatement.

He, however, promised that the “Nigeria Labour Congress will not be cowed into submission”.

He further regretted that the State and the security forces suspiciously picked on the Congress in a hybrid war.

“We knew they were up to something sinister.

“[They] 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 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,” Ajaero added.

Fresh demands

The NLC boss, therefore, made the following immediate demands of the government:

1) Reversal of the latest increase in the pump of PMS across the country.

2) Release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted on the assumption of having participated in the recent protests.

3) Halt the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped up charges.

4) Reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity.

5) Stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

6) End to policies that engender hunger and insecurity.

7) Halt to government’s culture of terror, fear and lying.

Ajaero assured that the union, in the coming days, will meet to take appropriate decisions which will be made public.

Reacting to the tug-of-war between Ajaero and Tinubu, a concerned Nigerian, who spoke anonymously, said:

“You should expect such unpredictable surprises from a career political criminal, who is both satanic and heartless.

“A kleptomaniac of no mean repute. Nigerians should brace for the worst.

“Fortunately for me, blessed are the hopeless, for they shall never be disappointed.”

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