NLC Demands Emergency Palliatives, Wage Awards as Petrol Hits ₦1,430/Litre

The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on the Federal Government to introduce immediate measures to cushion workers and other Nigerians from the impact of rising petrol prices.

The labour centre made the demand as the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, climbed to about ₦1,430 per litre at some filling stations.

The NLC said the latest increase was putting additional pressure on workers and households already struggling with high transportation, food and other living costs.

The union called for emergency palliatives and reasonable wage awards for workers to reduce the effect of the rising cost of living.

The NLC also urged the government to take steps to make locally produced crude oil available to domestic refineries at affordable rates.

According to the labour organisation, such a measure could help reduce production costs and ultimately lower the price of refined petroleum products for consumers.

The NLC argued that Nigeria’s status as an oil-producing country should provide room for stronger interventions whenever international developments cause significant increases in domestic fuel prices.

The recent increase in petrol prices followed a fresh adjustment in the price of refined products by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Following the adjustment, several filling stations across the country raised their pump prices, with motorists in Abuja and other locations reporting prices around ₦1,400 to ₦1,430 per litre.

The increase has also raised concerns over transportation costs, with labour warning that higher transport fares could trigger further increases in the prices of food, goods and services.

NLC spokesperson Benson Upah said the government should urgently intervene because the rising cost of transportation was placing additional pressure on workers and low-income Nigerians.

He also maintained that increased revenue accruing to the government from higher international crude oil prices should provide an opportunity to cushion citizens from the resulting economic pressures.

The labour centre further called for stronger measures to support local refining and reduce the country’s exposure to fluctuations in international oil prices.

It said workers should not be left to bear the full burden of rising fuel and transportation costs without corresponding measures to protect their purchasing power.

The NLC urged the Federal Government to act urgently, warning that continued increases in petrol prices could worsen the already difficult economic conditions facing Nigerian households.