The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticized former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his claim that labour leaders betrayed Nigerian workers by accepting the N70,000 minimum wage proposed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement titled “Under Saint Matthew of Owu,” NLC President Joe Ajaero dismissed Obasanjo’s remarks as unfair, arguing that the negotiation process for the new wage had been rigorous.
Ajaero explained that the initial demand from labour leaders was N610,000, which was considered the bare minimum required to meet workers’ essential needs. He pointed out that Obasanjo himself had described the N70,000 wage as inadequate, which was precisely why labour leaders had pushed for a much higher figure.
The former president, in his book “Nigeria: Past and Future,” had criticized labour leaders, accusing them of prioritizing personal interests and allowing themselves to be compromised during negotiations. He alleged that some union leaders engaged in negotiations for personal gain rather than advocating for workers’ welfare.
However, Ajaero countered these claims, stating that the NLC only accepted the N70,000 offer after weighing the consequences of alternative proposals, including a suggestion to raise the petrol pump price to N2,500 per litre in exchange for a N250,000 minimum wage.
“Torn between imposing additional hardship on citizens and accepting N70,000, we chose the latter, even though we acknowledged its inadequacy,” Ajaero stated.
He also noted that the government had offered additional incentives alongside the minimum wage, including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for workers and free conversion kits for their vehicles. Additionally, it was agreed that discussions for a further wage review could begin as early as 2026.
While acknowledging that there were some corrupt elements among labour leaders, Ajaero argued that it was unfair for Obasanjo to generalize and discredit the entire labour movement.
He further challenged the former president to reflect on his own role in weakening trade unions over the years, recalling past incidents of government suppression, including the arrest and detention of labour leaders, violent crackdowns on protests, and attempts to create a parallel labour organization to undermine the NLC.
Ajaero concluded by calling on the government to stop interfering with trade unions for political interests, stating that labour leaders remain committed to protecting workers’ rights despite ongoing intimidation and resistance.
