The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has expressed uncertainty regarding the terms of an agreement with President Bola Tinubu, in which the government allegedly assured labour that fuel prices would not rise further if they accepted a ₦70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
In a recent appearance on Arise News, Ajaero revealed that during negotiations, labour leaders were given a choice between accepting a ₦70,000 minimum wage with a freeze on fuel price hikes or holding out for their demand of ₦250,000, which would likely lead to increased fuel costs.
“We were told that agreeing to ₦70,000 would prevent a fuel price hike,” Ajaero said, explaining why the union eventually settled for the lower wage figure. However, the recent hike in petrol prices has prompted the NLC President to question the trustworthiness of the deal.
Reflecting on the discussions, Ajaero said: “I’m not sure if ‘betrayed’ or ‘deceived’ is the right word, but the situation is troubling.” He recalled how negotiations with the president stalled at ₦62,000 before Tinubu intervened. During a meeting, the president reportedly suggested that the removal of subsidies warranted a higher fuel price but offered the labour leaders a choice: accept the ₦70,000 minimum wage with no price hike or risk fuel prices rising further if they continued to push for ₦250,000.
“We told the president we needed time to consult our members before making any decisions,” Ajaero stated. “When we reconvened, we made it clear that we were only discussing the minimum wage, not fuel prices.”
Following the latest increase in petrol prices, Ajaero noted that the NLC’s leadership would soon convene to decide on the next course of action. “No single leader can make this decision. It has to be made by the entire labour body,” he explained, hinting that a strike could be considered if agreed upon by the union’s Central Working Committee (CWC) or National Executive Council (NEC).
Consultations within the NLC are expected to begin soon, with a meeting anticipated next week to address the new fuel price situation. Ajaero emphasized that any decisions would reflect the collective stance of the NLC members rather than personal opinions.
