In an interview on Arise Television, Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), discussed the understanding reached with President Bola Tinubu during the national minimum wage negotiations. Ajaero revealed that the organized labour had initially insisted on a minimum wage of N250,000 but ultimately accepted a revised offer of N70,000 after rejecting an increase in petroleum prices.
During the meeting at the Presidential Villa, Ajaero explained that the organized labour was presented with a choice: accept an increase in the price of petroleum products or maintain the status quo at N62,000 for the minimum wage. Ajaero recounted that President Tinubu implied that if the NLC allowed for a petrol price increase, he would agree to the higher minimum wage. However, the labour representatives declined this proposition and insisted on focusing solely on the minimum wage discussion.
Ajaero stated, “The basis of accepting the N70,000 minimum wage was for the president not to increase the pump price of petroleum products, and we made it clear there. If he had gone ahead to increase it, then we need to discuss the implications because we can’t compare N70,000 with what is happening now.” He noted that the recent spike in petroleum prices has dramatically affected transportation costs, contributing to the hardships faced by workers.
Additionally, Ajaero criticized the government for inflating the cost of converting vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). He pointed out that the government’s quoted conversion cost of N800,000 was significantly higher than the N300,000 agreement made with a team of experts.
Ajaero emphasized the need for the government to engage in consultations with social partners before implementing such changes, arguing that governance should be about collaboration and negotiation rather than unilateral increases in tariffs and prices. He warned that the price hike has exacerbated the suffering of Nigerians and called for a reversal of the increase to alleviate the burden on workers.
In summary, the NLC President highlighted the importance of transparency, consultation, and accountability in governance, particularly concerning the recent adjustments in minimum wage and petroleum pricing.