How NLC Rejected Tinubu’s Sponsored Tour, Demanded Border Security
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The National Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s offer to sponsor a tour of West African countries where petrol prices are as high as N2,000, citing concerns over fuel smuggling and border security.
“Mr. President also offered to sponsor our trip to some West African countries, where the lowest petrol price is N1,700. He said in Cameroon, petrol is sold for N2,000, and none of these countries have refineries—they source their products from Nigeria,” NLC President Joe Ajaero revealed during a two-day workshop in Lagos.
Ajaero emphasized that securing the borders is crucial to preventing fuel smuggling. “We told him to secure the borders because that’s the reason those products are being smuggled.”
The NLC president expressed concerns that accepting the offer would be perceived as a bribe. “We declined the offer, knowing Nigerians would accuse us of being bribed, rather than understanding it was just for a tour to those West African states.”
The union is pressing the government to address rising fuel prices and their impact on workers’ livelihoods. Ajaero stressed the need for urgent action, citing the erosion of benefits from the proposed N70,000 new national minimum wage due to the fuel price hike.
