The Nigeria Labour Congress, on Monday, lampooned former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his claim that labour leaders betrayed Nigerian workers by accepting the N70,000 new minimum wage offered by the President Tinubu-led Federal Government.
In a statement titled, “Under Saint Matthew of Owu,” the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, described Obasanjo’s remarks as uncharitable, refuting the ex-president’s claim of betrayal.
While chronicling the long negotiation for a new minimum wage, Ajaero pointed out that what labour leaders initially demanded and insisted on was N610,000.
The PUNCH had on Monday reported that Obasanjo, in his new book, titled, “Nigeria: Past and Future,” criticised the N70,000 new minimum wage, describing it as grossly inadequate to cover workers’ basic needs, including transportation, food, and housing.
He accused labour leaders of prioritising personal interests over collective welfare in the minimum wage negotiation.
“That is the situation in Nigeria in the third decade of the 21st century.
“Because of their political ambitions, most union leaders are ineffective compared to the founding fathers’ expectations.
“The workers thereby become victims of selfish leaders who use their positions to achieve political heights.
“Rather than negotiate in the interest of the workers, they do sabre-rattling and they are called into the room and money in large amounts is stuffed into their hands, and they keep quiet,” the ex-President wrote.
But replying to him on Monday, the NLC President, Ajaero, said Obasanjo merely rehashed the argument of labour leaders during a negotiation when he described the N70,000 minimum wage as grossly inadequate.
He said, “It was the reason we asked for N610,000, which we had described as the barest acceptable minimum, complete with a breakdown.
“The government and NECA, for inexplicable reasons, made a counteroffer of N50,000 without an explanation as to how much would go to what.
“This inevitably led to a stalemate in negotiations and, ultimately, a strike action, which was suspended only after President Bola Tinubu took over negotiations and made the offer of N70,000, a few thousand above the recommended figure by the Minimum Wage Committee.
“Of course, President Tinubu did accept to pay the N250,000, which was our last threshold but subject to raising the pump price of petrol to N2,500 or more per litre.
“Torn between foisting additional hardship on the citizenry and taking the N70,000, we opted for the latter even when we knew N70,000 was inadequate. We had to minimise the pain.”
Ajaero explained that the N70,000 offered by Tinubu was supposed to come with some “incentives”, including the promise that negotiations for a new minimum wage could begin as early as 2026.
“Other incentives included CNG buses for workers; free conversion kits for workers’ vehicles, etc.
“Thus, this is contrary to Chief Obasanjo’s assertion that workers ‘…have become victims of those meant to protect their interests,” Ajaero said.
While conceding that there were some bad eggs among labour leaders, Ajaero said, “It is no reason to cast aspersions on most unions as Chief Obasanjo has done. We do not know his motive.”
Ajaero said the NLC, led by him, had faced countless attacks, including litigation, by the government institutions “to hamstring us: from court injunctions, to harassment by the police and other security services, and even to other hideous acts of intimidation and brutalisation of the leadership of the congress.”
The NLC challenged Obasanjo to go on soul-searching, so he would see that he was part Nigerian leaders, who had unleashed attacks on labour leaders while fighting for workers’ rights.
Ajaero said, “If Chief Obasanjo has noticed an erosion in the powers of the trade unions, he should do a soul search. Who knows, he might find himself culpable right from arrest and detention of union leaders, killing of protesting workers, and his national broadcast wherein he accused the unions ‘of conducting themselves like a parallel government’.
“And above all, his vengeful plan and mission to proscribe the Nigeria Labour Congress. When the plot failed, he created a parallel labour centre. We recall the punishment he meted out to parliamentarians like Honourable Obete Obete for not playing his script
“Given this historical fact, it is uncharitable of Chief Obasanjo to turn on the unions. But then, we respect our elders here.
“In summary, governments should stop undermining the unions for their selfish interests.”