The Presidency has accused the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of what it called “dirty politics” on the issue of fuel price increase which was effected by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) yesterday, September 3.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, a media aide to the President, stressed that President Bola Tinubu never made any promise regarding fuel price increase as alleged by the NLC President , Joe Ajaero.
In a tweet today, September 4, the Presidential media aide described the allegation by the NLC President as “dirty politics.”
He said that he was present at two meetings between President Tinubu and labour leaders during minimum wage negotiations and that there was no discussion of a fuel price hike in exchange for a minimum wage increase.
Abdulaziz insisted that President Tinubu never made such a promise.
“I sat through the two meetings President @officialABAT had with Labour leaders on minimum wage. At neither of the meetings was an offer made in exchange for a fuel price hike. Ajaero is once again playing his dirty politics with the emotions of Nigerians.”
The NLC President had accused President Tinubu of betraying the trust of Nigerians by increasing fuel prices despite a promise to maintain stable prices. The labour union claimed that an important condition for accepting the N70,000 national minimum wage was a guarantee that fuel prices would not be increased.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has kicked against the increase in the price of petroleum as announced by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) today, September 3, describing it as a “Betrayal.”
In a statement reacting to the increase, the Congress President, Joe Ajaero wanted immediate reversal of the price of petrol, advising President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to put an end “to policies that engender hunger and insecurity” and “to government’s culture of terror, fear and lying.”
In the statement titled: “we feel betrayed,” the NLC President, stressed the deep sense of betrayal Nigerians feel as the federal government clandestinely increased the pump price of pms. “One of the reasons for accepting N70,000 as national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of pms would not be increased even as we knew that N70,000 was not sufficient.
“We recall vividly when Mr President gave us the devil’s alternatives to choose from: either N250,000 as minimum wage (subject to the rise of the pump price between N1,500 and N2,000) and N70,000 (at old pms rates), we opted for the latter because we could not bring ourselves to accept further punishment on Nigerians.
“But here we are, barely one month after and with government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain.
It is both traumatic and nightmarish.
“Yet, when we told government that it’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy contradictions was patently faulty and would not last, it’s front row cheer leaders sneered at us, saying we did not understand basic economics .
“But if truth be told, this act of betrayal is consistent with the character of this government. We recall the assurances we were given by the leadership of the National Assembly on the 250% tariff hike, that it had been dealt with and there was no need to openly engage the Minister of Power who was at that meeting.
“Instead of the promised reversal, the rate has since been jerked up further putting more Nigerians and businesses in jeopardy.
“The combined effects of government’s ferocious right -wing market policies brought Nigerians and Nigeria to their all-time low and led to the End-Hunger/End Bad Governance protests.
“Rather than make amends, government arrested and hounded into detention some of those who took part and some of those who had nothing to do with these protests, charging them with criminal conspiracy, subversion, treasonable felony, terrorism financing and cyber crime with an intent to overthrow the government of President Tinubu.
“The police and other security agencies have since been on rampage terrorising the citizenry in pursuance of government’s agenda of muzzling lawful dissent.
In brazen pursuit, they have defamed and libelled not a few individuals.”
Joe Ajaero said that when the State and the security forces picked on the citizens in a hybrid war, “we had our suspicions. We knew they were up to something sinister and needed to distract/divert our attention or possibly frighten or weaken us before they came out with it so that we would not have a robust response.
“Now that they chickens have come to roost, we were right in our suspicions. However, we want to let Nigerians know that the clandestine/surreptitious increase in the pump price of pms is the first among the equally sinister policies government has up its sleeve.
“On our part, we stand resolute with the people and will neither be distracted nor intimidated by the government or its security agencies.
“We insist that government cannot criminalise protests or basic rights in the domain of the citizenry.
“Accordingly, we demand the immediate:
1). Reversal of the latest increase in the pump of pms across the country;
2). Release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted on the assumption of having participated in the recent protests;
3). Halt the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped up charges;
4). Reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity;
5). Stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment;
6). End to policies that engender hunger and insecurity;
7). Halt to government’s culture of terror, fear and lying.
“We are guided by our belief in our country and the need to secure and sustain its sovereignty, integrity and welfare of the people.
“In the coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress will be meeting to take appropriate decisions which will be made public.”

The Nigeria Police has promised to give the sum of N20 Million to anybody that would provide information to the arrest of a British citizen, Andrew Wynne and a Nigerian, Lucky Ehims over alleged attempt to ‘overthrow’ President Bola Tinubu.
Andrew Wynne and Lucky Ehims have since yesterday, September 2, declared wanted.
In a statement, the police said that a reward sum of N10,000,000 awaits any person(s) with information leading to the arrest of each of them.
Police are said to have launched a comprehensive investigation into the activities of a foreign national and subversive elements plotting to undermine the democratically elected government in Nigeria through unconstitutional regime change and orchestrating violence across the country.
Force Public Relations Officer, Muyuwa Adejobi said in the statement: “Following extensive intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies, nine suspects have been apprehended, who received substantial financial backing from foreign sources to destabilize the country.
“Preliminary findings suggest they orchestrated and funded violent protests, disseminated false information, and engaged in other unlawful activities to create anarchy and justify their illegal plot to overthrow the democratically elected government.
“Investigations have identified a foreign mercenary, Andrew Wynne (also known as Andrew Povich or Drew Povey), a British national, who built a network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos.
“He rented a space at Labour House, Abuja, for an ‘Iva Valley Bookshop’ and established ‘STARS of Nations Schools’ as a cover for his subversive activities.
“Documentary evidence and confessions revealed that Andrew Wynne issued directives, monitored progress, and provided finance and operational guidance to achieve unconstitutional regime change in Nigeria.
“He mobilized and deployed several billions of naira to his Nigerian collaborators, urging them to mobilize the public to violently storm police facilities and military barracks, anticipating a bloodbath that would instigate international condemnation of the Nigerian government.
“These acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws.
“Since the commencement of investigations, Andrew Wynne has fled the country. He and one of his local coordinators, one Lucky Ehis Obiyan have accordingly been declared wanted and global hunting for them has commenced in connection with this investigation.
“The ten other suspects already apprehended have been arraigned before a competent court of law on Monday, September 2, 2024, for Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion, and Cybercrime.
“They include; Angel Love Innocent (Female), Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, Michael Tobitoba Adaramoye aka Leni, Suleiman Yakubu, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Abayomi Adeyemi, Abdulsalam Zubairu (M), Nuradeen Hamis, and Bashir Bello.
“These acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws
“The force also appealed to the public to assist in any useful information that will help their investigations, saying if Andrew Wynne and Lucky Ehims are seen, they should be arrested and “hand over to the nearest Police Station, or to the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Force Intelligence, Force Headquarters, Abuja, or call 08035179870, 09133333785, 09133333786. A reward sum of N10,000,000 awaits any person(s) with information leading to the arrest of each of them.”