NLC petrol price crisis warning as union urges FG to grant wage award, tax relief and expand cash transfers amid soaring fuel costs

The Nigeria Labour Congress has urged the Federal Government to intervene urgently in the ongoing fuel price crisis, warning that the rising cost of petrol is pushing millions of Nigerian workers deeper into poverty.

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The demand was contained in a statement issued at the weekend by the President of the labour union, Joe Ajaero, who called for immediate relief measures to cushion the growing economic pressure on workers and vulnerable citizens.

According to the congress, petrol prices have surged to between ₦1,170 and ₦1,300 per litre in several parts of the country, placing severe strain on households already grappling with high living costs.

The labour body insisted that the government cannot remain passive while citizens bear the consequences of global economic disruptions, stressing that decisive action is needed to ease the hardship.

The union linked the surge in fuel prices to escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, saying the development has exposed the fragility of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector despite claims that local refining would shield the country from global shocks.

The congress also criticised the pricing structure in the petroleum industry, arguing that the burden of international market volatility is being transferred directly to citizens through higher pump prices.

Rising fuel costs, the union said, have sharply increased transportation fares, worsened food inflation and eroded already modest wages, leaving many workers struggling to afford basic necessities.

To address the situation, the labour centre demanded an immediate wage award and a cost-of-living allowance for workers, expanded and more transparent cash transfer programmes for vulnerable Nigerians, and tax relief for low-income earners.

“Current wages are stipends of starvation,” the statement said, adding that government must urgently introduce relief measures to prevent deeper economic distress among workers.

The NLC also urged the government to provide a clear timeline for the full operationalisation of the country’s public refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, noting that reviving the facilities could help reduce Nigeria’s exposure to global fuel price shocks.

According to the congress, projections by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group suggest that Nigeria could earn about ₦30 trillion in oil windfall from the Middle East crisis.

The union insisted that the potential revenue should be invested in social protection and economic relief for citizens rather than lost through mismanagement.

“Nigerian workers are being pauperised and massively suffering. We are not a statistic; we are the engine of this nation. When the engine overheats, the entire vehicle crashes,” the statement said.

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The labour body also called for genuine social dialogue between the government and organised labour, warning that prolonged economic hardship could heighten social tensions if urgent interventions are not implemented.