The Nigeria Labour Congress has strongly opposed the latest increase in the price of petrol, saying it will worsen poverty and cause further hardship for Nigerians.
The price hike was implemented by retail outlets owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Wednesday.
In Lagos, NNPCL outlets adjusted the price of petrol to ₦998 per litre, up from ₦855. In Abuja, the price went as high as ₦1,030 per litre. Many independent filling stations also followed, with some selling petrol for as much as ₦1,050 per litre in Lagos.
NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the hike in a statement, calling on the government to reverse the decision immediately. He expressed concerns about the negative impact on the economy and people’s livelihoods.
“It will further deepen poverty as production capacities dip, more jobs lost, with multidimensional negative effects,” Ajaero said. “Previous increases have only made Nigerians poorer.”
He also criticized the government’s approach to economic management, stating that raising fuel prices has not brought any benefits. “It looks like the only thing this government is known for is increasing the pump price of petrol without considering the capacity of Nigerians or offering real solutions,” Ajaero added.
The NLC urged the government to stop the trend of price increases and instead focus on providing a long-term plan for economic growth. “We challenge the government to present us with a blueprint for inclusive growth, rather than this ad-hoc and ineffective policy,” Ajaero stated.
The labour union’s rejection of the fuel price hike reflects the growing frustration among Nigerians as the cost of living continues to rise.
