The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to introduce immediate wage awards for workers to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices and worsening living costs.
NLC President Joe Ajaero, in a statement issued in Abuja, on Wednesday September 16, said petrol was selling for about 1,430 naira per litre in major urban centres, with prices higher in less accessible areas. He warned that rising transport costs would further push up the prices of food, school fees, rent and other essential services, putting additional pressure on workers’ purchasing power.
Ajaero attributed part of the latest petrol price increase to renewed conflict in the Gulf, but said Nigeria should have mechanisms to protect citizens from international energy-market shocks. He urged the government to make sufficient crude oil available in naira to local refineries, expand storage capacity and consider subsidies or palliatives during severe economic emergencies.
The NLC president also questioned the importation of crude oil by local refineries, saying it undermined the objective of developing domestic refining capacity. He argued that government intervention was justified given the revenue gains from higher international crude prices and warned that labour would continue to speak out or take action to protect Nigerians from worsening economic hardship.
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