NLC Demands Emergency Measures As Petrol Price Hits ₦1,430

NLC Demands Emergency Measures as Petrol Price Hits ₦1,430

The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC has called on the Federal Government to urgently introduce measures to cushion Nigerians from the impact of rising petrol prices, which have reached about ₦1,430 per litre in some major cities. The demand was contained in a statement titled “Save the Situation Now” and signed by NLC President, Joe Ajaero. The labour union warned that higher petrol prices were putting additional pressure on workers and households by driving up transportation costs and, in turn, increasing the prices of essential goods and services. The NLC urged the Federal Government to immediately introduce reasonable wage awards for workers to help offset the effects of rising fuel and transportation costs. Ajaero said increases in transport fares typically have wider consequences, affecting the cost of food, rent, school fees, tariffs and other household expenses. The union said the latest surge was worsening economic hardship and putting further pressure on household incomes. The labour centre also called on the government to sell sufficient crude oil to local refineries in naira. The NLC argued that Nigeria’s status as an oil-producing country, combined with its growing domestic refining capacity, should provide some protection against international oil-market shocks. It also raised concerns about domestic refineries importing crude, arguing that such imports undermine the objective of developing local refining capacity. Another demand was for an expansion of Nigeria’s national petroleum storage capacity to strengthen energy security and improve the country’s ability to respond to emergencies. According to the NLC, the proposed measures could create jobs, generate economic value and help address emerging security challenges. The labour union also argued that government intervention, including subsidies, could be justified during an emergency. Ajaero said the latest petrol-price surge was linked partly to the renewed conflict in the Gulf, but maintained that Nigeria should have measures in place to protect citizens from international energy-price shocks. The NLC further claimed that the Federal Government was receiving between $35 and $40 per barrel above the crude oil price benchmark used in the national budget, describing the additional revenue as a potential windfall that could support emergency interventions. The claim was presented by the NLC as part of its argument for using increased oil revenues to cushion the impact of higher fuel prices. The union urged the government to act quickly, warning that allowing higher fuel and transportation costs to spread through the economy would further increase pressure on Nigerian households.