NLC Demands Immediate Reversal of Fuel Price Hike, Condemns Government’s “Traumatic” Policies
Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the immediate reversal of the recent fuel price hike announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), stating that the increase has exacerbated the misery of Nigerians. The NNPCL had raised the pump price of petrol from ₦568 to as high as ₦897 per litre, depending on the location, amid ongoing fuel scarcity across the country.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the move, accusing the Federal Government of betraying the labour movement and worsening the economic hardship faced by citizens.
“We demand the immediate reversal of the latest increase in the pump price of PMS across the country, the release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted for allegedly participating in recent protests, and a halt to the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped-up charges,” Ajaero stated.
He further called for the reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity and an end to policies that foster hunger, insecurity, and what he described as the government’s “culture of terror, fear, and lying.”
Traumatic Policies and Government Insincerity
Ajaero criticized the current administration for its failure to implement the new national minimum wage of ₦70,000, accusing it of insincerity and poor governance. He described the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration as “traumatic and nightmarish,” citing a previous proposal by the government to set a minimum wage of ₦250,000 in exchange for a petrol price of ₦1,500 per litre—a proposal the labour leaders rejected due to its potential negative impact on Nigerians.
“But here we are, barely one month after, and with the government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain. It is both traumatic and nightmarish,” Ajaero lamented.
He recalled how labour had warned the government about the flawed approach to resolving the fuel subsidy issue, but those warnings were dismissed by government officials who, he said, “sneered at us, saying we did not understand basic economics.”
Ajaero also expressed disappointment in the government’s failure to reverse the 250% electricity tariff hike, despite assurances from the leadership of the National Assembly. He noted that instead of providing relief, the tariff has been further increased, placing more Nigerians and businesses in jeopardy.
The NLC’s demands and criticisms underscore the growing discontent among Nigerians over the government’s handling of economic policies, particularly in the face of rising living costs and widespread poverty.