MARGARET CHIDERA
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has fiercely responded to a statement made by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Print Media, regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding the proposed minimum wage and fuel price hike.
This was contained in a statement signed by the NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, and issued to journalists in Abuja.
Upah, in a scathing rebuttal, questioned Abdulaziz’s credibility even as he further accused him of suffering from “selective amnesia” and “attention span deficit.”
The controversy began when Abdulaziz denied claims that an offer was made to labour leaders in exchange for a fuel price hike during the minimum wage negotiation meetings with President Bola Tinubu.
Abdulaziz was quoted 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.”
This statement, however, has been met with strong opposition from the NLC, as Upah has challenged Abdulaziz’s account by insisting that if Abdulaziz was truly present at the meetings, 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 the increase or accept N62,000.
The NLC questioned whether the presidential aide was experiencing memory issues or simply trying to distort the facts.
Upah emphasized that the NLC stands by its original statement and accused Abdulaziz of failing to accurately represent the events of the meetings.
“We find amusing the denial of Abdulaziz. We have since asked ourselves if he is suffering from selective amnesia or attention span deficit.
“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 the increase or accept N62,000.”
According to Upah, the labour leaders opted to meet outside the Villa and, upon returning a week later, “were blunt and rejected the offer.”
The NLC also took issue with Abdulaziz’s personal attack on its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
Abdulaziz had accused Ajaero of “playing his dirty politics with the emotions of Nigerians.” In response, Upah fired back, urging Abdulaziz to “stop insulting the intelligence of Nigerians,” stating that the public does not need Ajaero to understand that they have been “taken for a ride” by the government’s policies, which have led to worsening living conditions.
In a broader critique, Upah pointed out that Nigerians are “entitled to a decent, respectable life free from harassment, intimidation, and starvation.”
He asserted that while the government may possess significant coercive power, “true power resides with the people,” underscoring the NLC’s belief in the sovereignty of the Nigerian populace.
The NLC also addressed what it perceives as a larger issue of misinformation, with Upah declaring, “We are acutely conscious of the fact that falsehood does not live forever.”
However, the NLC strongly said that it stands firmly by its original statement and the actions of its leaders, particularly Comrade Joe Ajaero.
