The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed surprise at what it called “dubious denial” by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, a media aide to President Bola Tinubu that there was no discussion on fuel price increase during the negotiation for national minimum wage for workers.
A statement today, September 4, reacting to the Presidency’s denial, by the spokesman to the NLC, Benson Upah, said: “we have since asked ourselves if he (Abdulaziz) is suffering from selective amnesia or attention span deficit.”
The NLC statement said that it is a lie for Abdulaziz to claim that he sat through the two meetings President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had with Labour leaders on minimum.
“We find amusing the denial of Abdulaziz,” the labour union said, adding that the presidency is once again playing its dirty politics with the emotions of Nigerians.
“Whatever the matter is with Abdulaziz, we stand by our statement. And if Abdulaziz was at those meetings as he claimed, he should be courageous enough to let the world know whether the President gave the labour leaders one hour to meet and resolve to either accept and allow increase or accept N62,000.
“Labour leaders, instead, chose to meet outside the Villa and report in a week. When they came back, they were blunt and rejected the offer.
“As for Abdulaziz’s side-dig, he should stop insulting the intelligence of Nigerians as they do not need Comrade Joe Ajaero to know they have been taken for a ride and that life has never been this mean, all due to the policies of government.
“We also find it necessary to let Abdulaziz and those who sent him know that Nigerians are entitled to a decent, respectable life free from harassment, intimidation and starvation.
“Government may have all the ultimate weapons of coercion, true power resides with the people.
“Finally, we are also acutely conscious of the fact that falsehood does not live forever.”
