KEY POINTS
- NLC demands government action as petrol prices rise to between N1,230 and N1,300 per litre, worsening economic hardship for Nigerians.
- Labour calls for wage support, tax relief, and expanded social programmes to cushion workers and vulnerable citizens.
- The union also urges revival of local refineries and transparent use of oil revenue as global oil prices rise amid Middle East tensions.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene following the sharp increase in petrol prices, which have climbed to between N1,230 and N1,300 per litre across Nigeria.
The call was made in a statement issued by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who warned that the surge in fuel prices has intensified the economic pressure on Nigerian workers and households.
According to Ajaero, the spike in petrol prices is already triggering a ripple effect across the economy, leading to higher transportation costs, rising food prices, and a significant increase in the overall cost of living.
He noted that workers and ordinary Nigerians are bearing the brunt of the development, as many are struggling to cope with the mounting financial burden.
Labour Demands Immediate Relief Measures
The labour leader stressed that the Federal Government must implement urgent relief measures to cushion the impact of the fuel price increase on workers and vulnerable citizens.
Ajaero said the sudden rise in petrol prices has worsened the economic realities facing Nigerians.
“The sudden increase in petrol price to between N1,170 and N1,300 per litre has further deepened the economic hardship faced by Nigerian workers and the general populace,” he said.
He explained that the escalating cost of fuel has made transportation increasingly unaffordable for many workers, while the prices of food and other essential commodities continue to climb beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
To address the situation, the NLC called on the government to introduce policies such as wage support initiatives and cost-of-living relief programmes to help ease the financial strain on households.
Ajaero also urged authorities to provide tax relief for low-income earners and expand social support programmes aimed at protecting vulnerable Nigerians from the worsening economic conditions.
The NLC president further argued that the current fuel price volatility underscores the vulnerability of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector to fluctuations in the global oil market.
He emphasized the need for the government to ensure that public refineries across the country are fully operational, noting that this would reduce the nation’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
According to him, reviving local refineries would help stabilize domestic fuel supply and shield the country from sudden price shocks in the international market.
