Ajaero Reveals Key Details from Meeting with Tinubu on Minimum Wage and Fuel Prices
In a recent appearance on Friday, October 11, on The Morning Show on Arise News, Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), shed light on the contentious negotiations surrounding the new minimum wage and the recent increase in petrol prices.
During a crucial meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, the organized labor, which includes both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), faced a challenging decision. Initially insisting on a minimum wage of N250,000, they ultimately agreed to a revised offer of N70,000 after extensive discussions.
Ajaero explained that negotiations reached a stalemate over the existing wage of N62,000, with many states expressing their unwillingness to comply. “When we reached the President, he turned to me and said, ‘Ajaero, you are the one holding my hand from increasing further,’” he recounted. The President indicated that with the removal of fuel subsidies, there was an expectation for a price adjustment in petrol, suggesting that labor leaders should study fuel prices in neighboring West African countries.
However, Ajaero firmly declined the President’s proposal for labor representatives to travel abroad for price comparisons, stating that the discussion was strictly about the minimum wage. “We made it clear that we had no mandate to discuss fuel prices; we were there solely to negotiate the minimum wage,” he said.
Following the meeting, the labor leaders reconvened a week later and reiterated their stance, finally agreeing to the N70,000 minimum wage offer, though not without lingering concerns about the implications of the petrol price increase.
When asked whether the NLC felt betrayed by the President’s decision to raise fuel prices despite the negotiations, Ajaero emphasized the need for careful deliberation. “No NLC President will announce a strike without consulting the relevant bodies,” he affirmed, highlighting that decisions must involve the Central Working Committee (CWC) or the National Executive Council (NEC).
Looking ahead, Ajaero announced that the NLC’s organs would meet next week to discuss the recent petrol price hike. “We will ensure that the collective voice of our members is heard and considered in any decisions we make,” he concluded.
