- Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) demanded immediate reversal of the latest petrol price hike
- Labour President, Joe Ajaero criticised the government for repeatedly raising fuel prices without addressing workers’ minimum wage
- Joe Ajaero called for Nigerians to unite in response to the ongoing fuel price hikes
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the immediate reversal of the latest petrol price hike implemented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), arguing that the increase will worsen poverty and economic hardships for Nigerians.
The NLC, through its president Joe Ajaero, issued a statement on Wednesday, October 9, criticising the fact that a private entity is dictating the cost of such crucial commodities.
Ajaero calls NNPCL's role in setting petrol prices a hegemonic monopoly
He said, “We are dismayed by the latest increase in the pump price of petrol. It looks like the only thing this government is known for is increase in the pump price of petrol without commensurate capacity of Nigerians or mitigatory measures.
“Even following the logic of market forces, we find it an aberration that a private company (NNPCL) is the one fixing prices and projecting itself as a hegemonic monopoly,” Ajaero stated.
He criticised the government for persistently raising petrol prices, wondering why this happens so frequently when the new minimum wage is still pending implementation.
Petrol price hike will deepen poverty, Ajaero warns
Ajaero further said, “We challenge the government to go to the drawing board and present us with a blueprint for an inclusive economic growth and national development instead of this spasmodic ad hocism and palliative policy.
“It needs no stating the fact that the latest wave of increase has grossly altered the calculations of Nigerians once again at a time they were reluctantly coming to terms with their new realities.
“It will further deepen poverty as production capacities dip, more jobs lost with multidimensional negative effects,” Ajaero stated.
Petrol prices surge, NLC calls for reversal
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) increased the pump price of petrol from N855 to N998 per litre in Lagos, N897 to N1,030 in Abuja, N1,070 in the North-East, N1,045 in the South-East, N1,025 in the South-West, and N1,075 in the South-South.
Ajaero said, “In light of this, we urge the government to immediately reverse this rate hike as previous increases did not produce any good results. People only got poorer.
“But more fundamentally, the government should be bold enough to tell Nigerians in advance the destination it wants to take the country,” the labour leader said.”
Ajaero calls for unity among Nigerians against fuel price hike
Speaking at the launch of the book The Tripartite: Understanding the Interplay between Workers, Employers, and Government, written by TVC’s Labour correspondent Sharon Ijasan, Ajaero urged Nigerians to unite in opposition to the recent fuel price hike, emphasising that the fight shouldn't be left solely to labour unions.
“I think it’s important we understand it, and it’s important for those in government to realise that governance is not just about increase in pump price of petroleum products. It appears that every morning people come out and increase, increase. Is that all about governance?”, he queried.
He further said, “Now, if I respond on what we are going to do as a labour movement, would that translate to what Nigerians will do to respond to this? Nigerians are expecting the labour movement to react to this hike.
Ajaero addresses CNG, refinery issues
“But, the issue at stake is more than labour movement because we are trying to look at it vis-a-vis N70,000 which was given to workers”, Ajaero said.
“We’ve had agreements on looking at the issue of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). The impact on it today is not there. We have had agreement on the issue of Port Harcourt refinery functioning. It’s not functioning today,” Ajaero added.
“Hurricane Tinubu strikes again”: Nigerians cry out as NNPCL increases fuel prices
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that many Nigerians expressed fear that the rising cost of fuel would worsen poverty and worsen living conditions across the country.
TheRadar compiled the reactions from the public in the report.