The Nigeria Labour Congress has urged the Federal Government to introduce immediate wage awards for workers as rising petrol prices drive up transportation costs and deepen economic pressures.
NLC President Joe Ajaero made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, saying higher petrol prices were eroding workers’ purchasing power and affecting their standard of living.
Ajaero said petrol was selling for about N1,430 per litre in major urban centres, with prices even higher in less accessible areas.
He warned that rising transport costs could trigger further increases in food prices, school fees, rents and utility tariffs.
He added that the sustained increase in petrol prices was eroding workers’ purchasing power and worsening their quality of life, particularly as transportation costs continued to climb.
“These new costs continue to inflict or deepen poverty among the populace, stressing the quality of life to the limits,” he said.
The NLC president attributed part of the latest petrol price increase to the resurgence of conflict in the Gulf, but said Nigeria should have mechanisms in place to shield citizens from sudden shocks in international energy markets.
“As a nation, and as a people endowed with enormous fossil resources, we are deserving of a certain level of protection or buffer against the gales from the Gulf,” he said.
Ajaero called on the Federal Government to introduce immediate and reasonable wage awards, ensure local refineries have adequate access to crude oil priced in naira, and increase the country’s petroleum storage capacity.
Ajaero said government intervention through subsidies or palliatives remained justified during emergencies that place severe economic pressure on citizens.
“There is nothing wrong with government subsidising the needs of citizens, especially in emergency situations like this,” he said.
He argued that such intervention was necessary, noting that the government was earning between $35 and $40 above the budgeted crude oil price in the international spot market.
