The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has hit back at former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his criticism of trade union leaders, calling his remarks unfair and historically hypocritical.
In a scathing statement issued by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the union dismissed Obasanjo’s claims that labour leaders have failed their members, pointing instead to past government actions—including those under Obasanjo’s watch—that have systematically weakened workers’ rights.
“We are delighted to have an ally in a personality as distinguished as our former President,” Ajaero remarked, referencing Obasanjo’s recent book, Nigeria: Past and Future, where the ex-president acknowledged that the minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep.
However, the NLC leader was quick to counter Obasanjo’s claim that workers had been “victims of those meant to protect their interests.”
“It is malevolent governments and predatory employers that deny workers these rights and not union leaders,” Ajaero fired back, rejecting Obasanjo’s attempt to blame labour leaders for workers’ struggles.
The NLC reiterated that its demand for a ₦610,000 minimum wage was based on the harsh realities of Nigeria’s economic crisis.
Instead, it said the government, backed by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), offered a paltry ₦50,000 without any clear breakdown of how workers were expected to survive on such an amount.
“This inevitably led to a stalemate in negotiations and ultimately, a strike action which was suspended only after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over negotiations and made the offer of ₦70,000,” Ajaero explained.
He added that the union had little choice but to accept the inadequate offer to “minimise the pain” for Nigerian workers.
But Ajaero made a shocking revelation: “President Tinubu did accept to pay ₦250,000, which was our last threshold, but subject to raising the pump price of petrol to ₦2,500 or more per litre.”
Faced with this ultimatum, he said the NLC opted for ₦70,000 rather than plunging Nigerians into even deeper economic hardship.
The NLC statement also took direct aim at Obasanjo’s history with trade unions, questioning his credibility on labour matters.
“Which founding fathers is he talking about here? The ones the colonial masters harassed or the ones he, Chief Obasanjo, either banned or detained?” the statement read.
The NLC reminded Nigerians that under Obasanjo’s presidency, labour leaders were arrested, detained, and even killed for standing up for workers’ rights.
“Who knows, he might find himself culpable,” Ajaero declared, accusing Obasanjo of trying to “proscribe the Nigeria Labour Congress” when he failed to bend it to his will.
The statement further exposed Obasanjo’s past actions, including his alleged attempt to create a rival labour centre when he couldn’t control the NLC.
Obasanjo had also accused some labour leaders of seeking political office while in union positions.
But the NLC dismissed this as unfounded criticism, pointing out that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grants union leaders the right to contest elections.
“We would like to let him understand, with all due respect, that the right to political leadership is enshrined in the law. The Supreme Court decision on this is affirmatory!” the NLC stated.
It further reminded Obasanjo that during his tenure as president, the NLC had already produced governors directly from union leadership, making his criticism baseless.
In a final statement dripping with defiance, Ajaero warned that governments should stop undermining unions for their selfish interests.
“Do you still arrest or beat up people after paying them to keep quiet? There is something amiss here,” he declared, demanding that a so-called “senior government official” who made allegations against union leaders should come forward with evidence or remain silent.
Despite the strong words, the NLC maintained that it still respects Obasanjo as an elder but made it clear that it will not accept misrepresentation of facts.
