The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong demand for the immediate reversal of the recent hike in petrol prices announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The NLC claims that the price increase, which raised the cost of petrol from ₦568 to between ₦855 and ₦897 per litre depending on location, has exacerbated the suffering of Nigerians already facing economic hardship.
NLC President Joe Ajaero criticized the move in a statement, accusing the Federal Government of betraying the trust of the labour movement. “We demand the immediate reversal of the latest increase in the pump price of PMS across the country, the release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted on the assumption of having participated in recent protests,” Ajaero said.
He further called for an end to the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens, a reversal of the 250% electricity tariff hike, and a stop to policies that promote hunger and insecurity. Ajaero also condemned what he described as the government’s “culture of terror, fear, and lying.”
Criticism of Government Policies
Ajaero expressed frustration with the current administration’s failure to implement the new national minimum wage of ₦70,000, accusing the government of insincerity and describing its policies as “traumatic.”
He recalled a proposal by President Bola Tinubu, who offered a minimum wage of ₦250,000 in exchange for a petrol price of ₦1,500 per litre. The labour leaders rejected the offer, fearing its adverse impact on ordinary Nigerians. “But here we are, barely one month later, with the government yet to commence payment of the new minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain. It is both traumatic and nightmarish,” Ajaero remarked.
The NLC leader also criticized the government’s handling of the fuel subsidy removal, arguing that the approach was flawed from the outset. He accused the government of ignoring warnings from labour leaders and breaking promises made by the National Assembly to address the 250% electricity tariff hike.
Ajaero lamented that instead of a promised reversal, the rate had been further increased, putting more Nigerians and businesses at risk. “This act of betrayal is consistent with the character of this government,” he added.
The NLC is calling for urgent actions to mitigate the economic hardships faced by Nigerians, emphasizing its commitment to the sovereignty, integrity, and welfare of the people.
