FG Faces Backlash As, NLC Accuses Tinubu Of Betrayal Over Fuel Price Hike
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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned the recent hike in fuel prices, accusing President Bola Tinubu of betrayal.
In a statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero on Wednesday, the Labour Centre expressed shock and dismay at the clandestine increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), describing it as a “deep sense of betrayal.”
The NLC recalled that one of the reasons for accepting the N70,000 national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of PMS would not be increased.
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However, the government has reneged on this promise, implementing “ferocious right-wing market policies” that have driven Nigerians to their “all-time low.”
The Congress also condemned the government’s crackdown on protesters, the arrest and detention of citizens on trumped-up charges, and the encroachment on the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The NLC demanded an immediate reversal of the fuel price increase, release of incarcerated protesters, an end to indiscriminate arrests and detentions, reversal of the 250% electricity tariff hike, a stop to the encroachment on the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s duties, an end to policies that engender hunger and insecurity, and a halt to the government’s culture of terror, fear, and deceit.
The NLC vowed to stand resolute with the people and not be intimidated by the government or its security agencies, warning that appropriate decisions would be taken in the coming days. “In the coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress will be meeting to take appropriate decisions which will be made public.”
This development comes as Nigerians continue to grapple with the harsh economic realities of the fuel price hike and other policies of the government. The NLC’s demands are seen as a bold step towards challenging the government’s decisions and advocating for the rights of Nigerians.
In a related development, the NLC has also condemned the government’s handling of the economy, accusing it of implementing policies that have led to hyperinflation, unemployment, and poverty. The Congress has called on the government to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders to address the underlying issues that have led to the current economic crisis.
