HARDSHIP: It Took Asiwaju Tinubu 1 day To Remove Fuel Subsidy But It Takes me and my Team Many Months to Fix it – NLC Joe Ajaero

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) advocated for the annual review of the minimum wage, citing the impact of inflation and currency devaluation on workers’ purchasing power. However, the Federal Government maintained that any adjustment to the minimum wage should be grounded in current economic conditions and sustainability..

At the 2nd National Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum themed “Strengthening Tripartism and Social Dialogue,” organized by the National Employers Consultative Association (NECA) in Abuja, the contrasting views of the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, came to the forefront.

Ajaero emphasized the necessity of revisiting the minimum wage annually to account for inflation and currency devaluation, highlighting the stark reality that even negotiated amounts today may be insufficient to purchase basic necessities in the future. He expressed workers’ discontent with the poor implementation of previous wage agreements, noting that despite agreements on a higher minimum wage, many workers have yet to receive the promised amounts.

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Moreover, Ajaero criticized the government’s handling of economic policies, particularly in managing the impact of fuel subsidy removal. He questioned the delay in implementing measures to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal, contrasting it with the swift decision to abolish the subsidy itself.

According to him, “It took you (President Tinubu) 24 hours to say fuel subsidy is gone and it is taking you more than eight months to decide what to do with it and you are telling us to give you more time. Also, eight months after, no single CNG bus is on the road.”

On the other hand, SGF Akume echoed the government’s stance, stressing the importance of considering economic realities, sustainability, and public interests in determining minimum wage adjustments. He emphasized the need for a balanced approach that ensures workers’ welfare while also safeguarding the broader economy.