The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused President Bola Tinubu of betraying organized labor after the recent hike in fuel prices rendered the proposed N70,000 minimum wage ineffective.
Speaking at a workshop on minimum wage implementation in Lagos, NLC President Joe Ajaero revealed that President Tinubu had pressured labor to accept the minimum wage to prevent a further increase in fuel prices.
However, the price hike has since gone ahead, leaving workers struggling to survive.
Ajaero expressed frustration, stating that the hike had eroded the benefits of the minimum wage before it even took effect.
“We were betrayed by Mr. President… Even the N250,000 he offered wouldn’t have been enough to cover the impact of the price hike,” Ajaero said.
He also criticized the government’s lack of transparency and failure to address the economic hardship affecting Nigerians.
Ajaero further highlighted the ongoing suffering caused by rising costs, as workers use their salaries just to get to work, with nothing left to sustain their families.
He emphasized that organized labor had been distracted by government tactics and called on the government to prioritize the well-being of Nigerians.
“This is the dilemma all of us are facing,” Ajaero said, adding that the N70,000 wage is inadequate, especially with the rising cost of living.