NLC: Presidential Aide Lied, We Stand By Our Statement

By Adesina Soyooye

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has taken a swipe at one of President Bola Tinubu’s Media Aides, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz.

Abdulaziz had, on Wednesday, faulted Labour’s stand on the sudden fuel price hike. The Federal Government had, in an unexpected move, hiked the fuel price to  N900, almost, per litter, and that, in the middle of an excruciating fuel scarcity that has turned lives inside out, upside down.

In reaction to the hike, NLC said Mr President has betrayed Labour. In a statement issued by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC bemoaned the suffering of the masses, and asked the Federal Government to revert. The statement pointed out that the NLC agreed to the N70,000 minimum wage offered by the President, on the condition that there will not be another hike in fuel price. It accused the Federal Government of betraying Labour by reneging on his promise during the meeting with him.

But Abdulaziz, in a swift response, said there was no such discussion between Mr President and Labour Leaders, and, therefore, no such promise to the NLC.

Proof: Abdulaziz said he was present at both meetings the NLC held with Mr President.

Miffed, the NLC, in a statement signed its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, on Wednesday, literally dismissed Abdulaziz as a liar who is suffering from selective amnesia. It recounted how, and why, the Congress agreed to the N70,000 minimum wage offered by the President and said it stands by its statement which denounced Tuesday’s hike in fuel price. It insisted on an immediate reversal to the old price.

Following, the NLC statement, the second within 24 hours.

WE STAND BY OUR STATEMENT

“Our attention has been drawn to the denial  credited to the Senior Special Assistant to Mr President on the  Print Media, Mr Abdulaziz Abdulaziz.

“In the said statement, Abdulaziz was quoted as saying:

‘I sat through the two meetings President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had with Labour leaders on minimum wage.  At neither of the meetings was an offer made in exchange of fuel price hike. Ajaero is once again playing his dirty politics with the emotions of Nigerians’.

“We  find amusing the denial of Abdulaziz. We have since asked ourselves if he is suffering from selective amnesia or attention span deficit.

“However, not satisfied with his dubious denial, he elected to take a side dig at Comrade Joe Ajaero as ‘…once again playing his 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.

“Benson Upah

Head of Information and Public Affairs”

The new fuel price hike has attracted strong condemnation from a good number of people from all walks of life.