Joe Ajaero, de president of de Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), don condemn de recent hike in petrol price, sayin’ it dey harmful to de newly approved N70,000 minimum wage. Ajaero talk say de increase in petrol price from 897 naira to 1,030 naira per litre in Abuja and from 868 naira to 998 naira per litre in Lagos go undermine de agreed minimum wage.
Ajaero also accuse de government of not doin’ enough about Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which dem believe be a cheaper alternative to petrol. He explain say de first conversation between de government and NLC on CNG start in June 2023, shortly after de fuel subsidy was removed. Both parties agree say CNG go be a viable alternative, but de process dey delayed because de government propose a higher conversion cost of around N800,000 compared to de N300,000 suggested by experts.
De NLC president clarify say no NLC president get de power to unilaterally call for strike without goin’ through proper procedures, which involve convenin’ meetings with de Central Working Committee (CWC) or de National Executive Council (NEC). He say dem go meet next week to discuss de next line of action on de petrol price hike.
Ajaero reveal say during de national minimum wage talks with President Bola Tinubu, de organised labour accept de N70,000 minimum wage on de condition that de government no go increase de price of petroleum products. However, de government go ahead and increase de price, which Ajaero describe as a betrayal of trust.
