Tinubu Offered N70,000 Minimum Wage in Exchange for Petrol Price Hike – NLC President Ajaero
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, on Friday revealed details of his meeting with President Bola Tinubu concerning the new minimum wage and the proposed fuel price increase. Ajaero explained that during negotiations at the Presidential Villa, the organised labour rejected an offer to increase the petrol pump price in exchange for the acceptance of a ₦70,000 minimum wage.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Ajaero provided insight into the discussions between the organised labour, comprising the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the President. Initially, the labour unions had demanded ₦250,000 as the new minimum wage but eventually agreed to ₦70,000 after further negotiations.
Ajaero described a tense moment during the meeting when President Tinubu raised the possibility of increasing the petrol price as part of the negotiation for a higher minimum wage.
“I have to narrate the scenario to you,” Ajaero said. “We were discussing and reached a stalemate at ₦62,000. Even the states were saying they wouldn’t pay. So we took the issue to Mr. President. We insisted on ₦250,000, and the President turned to me and said, ‘Ajaero, you’re the one holding my hand from increasing the fuel price.’”
According to Ajaero, Tinubu suggested that the petrol price could be raised to align with the prices in some West African countries, offering to sponsor labour representatives to see firsthand what citizens in neighboring nations were paying. Tinubu then offered ₦250,000 as the new minimum wage if the NLC accepted the fuel price hike, but labour leaders declined the offer.
“He [President Tinubu] said, ‘If you agree to an increase in petrol price, I will pay you ₦250,000; if not, you take ₦62,000.’ But we told him we would need more time to consult with our members. When we reconvened a week later, we made it clear that we didn’t have any mandate to discuss fuel prices – only the minimum wage.”
After further discussions, the unions agreed to the ₦70,000 offer without committing to a fuel price hike.
Regarding the recent petrol price increase and why the NLC has not yet declared a strike, Ajaero emphasized that the decision-making process within the labour movement involves consultations with all its organs. “No NLC President will declare a strike without meeting with the Central Working Committee or the National Executive Council,” he said. “By next week, we should be able to meet and have a conversation around this.”
Ajaero also noted that the NLC would address the fuel price issue once the internal consultations are complete, stressing that his personal views would not influence the decision of the broader labour movement.
