The Nigeria Labour Congress has urged the Federal Government to intervene as petrol prices surge to between N1,170 and N1,300 per litre, worsening economic hardship for workers and households.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently intervene over the rising cost of petrol, which now sells between N1,170 and N1,300 per litre across the country.
The demand was contained in a statement issued by the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero.
Ajaero said the surge in petrol prices has intensified the economic hardship already facing Nigerian workers and the general population.
According to him, the rising fuel cost has significantly affected transportation expenses while pushing food prices and other essential commodities beyond the reach of many households.
“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 added that transportation had become increasingly unaffordable for many workers, worsening the cost-of-living crisis nationwide.
The labour leader urged the government to introduce urgent measures aimed at cushioning the impact of the fuel price increase.
He suggested policies such as wage support programmes, cost-of-living relief measures, and targeted assistance for vulnerable citizens.
According to Ajaero, such interventions are necessary to protect workers and low-income earners from the harsh economic realities triggered by rising fuel costs.
The NLC president also noted that the current petrol price surge highlights the vulnerability of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector to fluctuations in the global energy market.
He stressed that strengthening domestic refining capacity would help reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
Ajaero therefore called on the government to ensure that public refineries become fully operational in order to stabilise local supply.
Beyond fuel sector reforms, the NLC also urged the government to introduce tax relief for low-income earners and expand social support programmes to assist vulnerable Nigerians.
The labour union further called for transparency in the management of any additional oil revenue generated from global crude oil price movements.
According to Ajaero, potential windfalls from rising oil prices should be directed toward improving the welfare of Nigerians.
He also emphasised the importance of continued engagement between the government and organised labour to address the broader economic challenges confronting workers.
Ajaero said constructive dialogue would help develop practical solutions to mitigate the impact of rising living costs on Nigerian families.
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