The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to intervene as petrol prices rise to about N1430 per litre in some major cities, with prices reportedly higher in less accessible areas.
Joe Ajaero, NLC President in a statement on Wednesday, September 16, the labour centre said petrol is now selling for N1,430 per litre in major urban centres, with prices significantly higher in Iess accessible locations.
The NLC said the development was already feeding into higher transportation costs and, consequently, increases in the prices of food, rents, school fees and other essential services.
“These new costs continue to inflict or deepen poverty among the populace, stressing the quality of life to the limits”, Ajaero said.
Comrade Joe Ajaero, urged the government to approve reasonable wage awards for workers, make sufficient crude available in naira to local refineries and expand the country’s petroleum storage capacity.
The labour centre warned that the rising petrol price would further increase transportation costs and push up the prices of food, rent, school fees and and other essential services.
Ajaero linked art of the latest price increase to the resurgence of conflict in the Gulf but argued that Nigeria, as an oil producing country with local refining capacity, should have measures to protect citizens from international market shocks.
The NLC also questioned why local refineries still import crude despite the country’s push for domestic refining.
According to the NLC, the Federal Government should immediately introduce reasonable wage awards for workers, supply sufficient crude oil in naira to domestic refineries and expand national petroleum storage capacity to provide a buffer during energy emergencies.
Its urged the government to consider subsidies or other forms of targeted support for citizens, arguing that extraordinary circumstances justify temporary intervention to cushion the impact of higher energy costs.
The union further said government intervention, including subsidies or other targeted support, should not be ruled out during an emergency of this nature.
Ajaero criticised the continued importation of crude by local refineries, describing the practice as unreasonably and contrary to the objective of developing domestic refining capacity.
He warned that the government could not afford to stand by while marketers imposed additional hardship on Nigerians in the name of deregulation, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general election.
“We are of the view that government that seeks re-election in the next few months cannot afford to stand and watch marketers inflict suffering on the citizenry in the name of deregister. Labour has an obligation to speak out of act accordingly”, he added.
-9News Nigeria.
