The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has voiced concerns that the recent surge in petrol prices has effectively erased the benefits of the upcoming N70,000 national minimum wage.
The labor union has vowed to engage the federal government to address the mounting challenges faced by workers due to the price increase.
NLC President Joe Ajaero, speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop in Lagos on the implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act, expressed disappointment over the situation.
He noted that the NLC had been persuaded to accept the new wage based on assurances from President Bola Tinubu that there would be no further hikes in fuel prices.
“We were betrayed by Mr. President,” Ajaero said, emphasizing that the government had not kept its word.
He called on the authorities to urgently address the growing hunger, poverty, and frustration among Nigerians, warning that the situation could spiral out of control if left unresolved.
Reflecting on discussions with the President before the wage agreement, Ajaero criticized the government for using tactics to divert attention from the impact of rising fuel costs. “Some of you here were witnesses when the President singled me out as the problem,” he remarked, underscoring the NLC’s sense of betrayal as petrol prices continue to rise despite prior commitments.
The NLC has made it clear that without immediate action to ease the burden on workers, the new minimum wage will do little to improve the lives of Nigerians already grappling with economic hardship.
