By Chinedu Echianu
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to immediately introduce wage awards and sustainable palliatives to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices on workers and Nigerians.
The Congress said petrol prices had climbed to about N1,430 per litre in major urban centres, with costs even higher in less accessible areas, worsening the economic hardship facing households across the country.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, made the call in a press statement issued on Wednesday, warning that the latest increase in fuel prices was eroding workers’ wages and further deepening poverty.
Ajaero said the rising cost of petrol had triggered increases in transportation fares and other essential expenses, including food, school fees, rent and tariffs, placing additional pressure on the living conditions of Nigerians.
He noted that the latest surge had come at a time when government efforts to persuade petroleum marketers to reduce pump prices in line with international crude oil prices were beginning to yield results.
Although the renewed conflict in the Gulf had contributed to the latest increase, the NLC president argued that Nigeria’s status as an oil-producing country, alongside its domestic refining capacity, should provide some protection against global energy shocks.
To address the situation, the Congress urged the Federal Government to immediately grant reasonable wage awards to workers and ensure that local refineries receive sufficient crude oil supplies in naira.
According to Ajaero, the measures would not only cushion the impact of rising fuel prices but also create jobs, generate economic value and help address emerging security challenges.
The labour leader maintained that government intervention through subsidies and other forms of support for citizens was justified, particularly during periods of economic emergency.
He said oil-producing countries were introducing various interventions and sustainable palliative measures to protect their citizens from the effects of rising energy costs.
Ajaero further argued that the Federal Government had additional revenue to support such interventions, claiming that crude oil was currently selling between 35 and 40 dollars per barrel above the budget benchmark.
He said the resulting windfall, which he described as amounting to trillions of naira monthly, should provide the government with resources to alleviate the hardship facing Nigerians.
