The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has outrightly rejected the recent denial by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, regarding discussions during meetings on the new minimum wage.

The Presidency’s denial was issued following comments made by the NLC Chairman, Comrade Joe Ajaero that the President assured the union of not increasing the fuel pump price.

In his statement, Abdulaziz claimed that at no point during the meetings between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the labour leaders was an offer made in exchange for a fuel price hike.

He accused Ajaero of “playing dirty politics with the emotions of Nigerians.”

However, labour leaders have responded by dismissing Abdulaziz’s denial as “amusing” and questioned whether he suffers from “selective amnesia or attention span deficit.”

The union leaders maintained that their account of the events was accurate, insisting that an offer was indeed made by the President, giving the labour leaders an hour to decide between accepting a fuel price hike or agreeing to a ₦62,000 minimum wage.

They noted that the labour leaders chose to discuss the matter outside the Presidential Villa and, upon returning, rejected the offer outrightly.

The labour leaders also took issue with Abdulaziz’s remarks about Comrade Ajaero, stating that Nigerians do not need Ajaero to understand the impact of government policies on their lives.

They emphasized that Nigerians are entitled to a life of dignity, free from harassment and intimidation, and warned that true power ultimately resides with the people, not the government.

In a pointed conclusion, the labour leaders reminded Abdulaziz and those who supported him that “falsehood does not live forever,” asserting their stance on the issues at hand. (New Telegraph)