Labour union warns rising fuel costs are worsening economic hardship, calls for wage support, tax relief and social protection measures…..
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently intervene as petrol prices climb sharply across the country, now ranging between N1,230 and N1,300 per litre.
The appeal was made in a statement issued by the president of the labour union, Joe Ajaero, who warned that the latest surge in fuel prices is worsening the economic burden on Nigerian workers and households.
According to Ajaero, the increase in petrol prices has triggered a chain reaction across the economy, pushing up transportation costs, food prices and the general cost of living.
“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.
Workers face rising cost of living
The labour leader explained that the spike in fuel prices has made commuting increasingly difficult for many workers, while prices of essential goods and services continue to rise beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.
He warned that without immediate government intervention, the situation could further erode the purchasing power of workers already struggling with inflation and stagnant incomes.
To cushion the impact, Ajaero urged the government to introduce urgent relief measures aimed at supporting workers and vulnerable citizens.
“The government must urgently introduce measures, including wage support and cost of living relief, to cushion the devastating impact of the current fuel price crisis on workers and vulnerable citizens,” he said.
He also called for tax relief for low-income earners and the expansion of social protection programmes targeted at Nigerians most affected by the rising cost of living.
Call to revive local refineries
Ajaero said the current crisis once again highlights the vulnerability of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector to fluctuations in the global oil market.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that Nigeria’s public refineries become fully operational in order to reduce the country’s reliance on imported petroleum products.
According to him, reviving domestic refining capacity would help stabilise fuel supply and protect the country from sudden price shocks in international energy markets.
The NLC president also called on the government to maintain transparency in managing any additional revenue generated from rising crude oil prices.
He urged authorities to channel any potential oil windfall toward programmes that directly improve the welfare of Nigerians.
Rising oil prices and global tensions
The surge in petrol prices comes amid rising global oil prices triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
The conflict has disrupted global energy supply chains and pushed crude oil prices higher in international markets, with ripple effects on domestic fuel prices in import-dependent countries like Nigeria.
Industry stakeholders have also weighed in on the situation. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) recently urged the government to invest potential gains from rising oil prices into strengthening Nigeria’s gas infrastructure.
Its national president, Billy Gillis-Harry, said higher crude prices could provide Nigeria with an opportunity to expand long-term energy infrastructure rather than spend the additional revenue immediately.
As petrol prices continue to rise, labour leaders say swift government action will be necessary to prevent further strain on Nigerian workers and households already grappling with a difficult economic climate.
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