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In a recent appearance with Arise Television’s Morning Show, Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), explained the NLC’s justification for accepting an offer of a N70,000 minimum salary.
Ajaero clarified that the NLC rejected additional increases in petrol prices while negotiating the wage accord and that the decision was made during talks with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Ajaero emphasised that although organised labour first demanded a minimum salary of N250,000, they eventually agreed to accept N70,000 as a compromise.
“While we were discussing, we stalemated at N62,000, even the states were saying they wouldn’t pay,” Ajaero shared.
“We insisted on N250,000, but President Tinubu expressed his intent to increase fuel prices if the labour endorsed it, offering to meet our demand if agreed.”
The NLC president discussed the government’s position on compressed natural gas (CNG) car conversion prices in addition to the pay discussions.
At first, the labour organisation and experts had agreed that vehicles would be converted for N300,000. Ajaero said that after that, government representatives gave a cost of N800,000, which heightened tensions.
When asked if President Tinubu had “betrayed” labour’s trust by raising petrol prices, Ajaero avoided direct accusation, noting, “I have to narrate the scenario… then we now choose the appropriate word, whether it is betrayed, deceit, or whatever.”
The NLC eventually accepted the N70,000 minimum wage, stating that labour was simply concerned with salaries and not with any mandated increase in petrol prices, indicating a compromise in the face of persistent economic hardships.