The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an urgent reversal of the recent fuel price hike by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), citing the severe impact on citizens and the economy.
On Wednesday, NNPCL raised the petrol pump price to N1,030 per liter in Abuja and N998 in Lagos, up from N897 and N885, respectively.
Reacting to the increase, NLC President Joe Ajaero expressed deep concern over the government’s persistent fuel price hikes without offering sufficient relief measures for the public. He criticized NNPCL’s monopolistic role in setting prices, stating it undermines market fairness and contributes to economic instability.
Ajaero urged the government to develop a comprehensive economic growth plan that prioritizes inclusive development rather than relying on temporary fixes and palliatives. He warned that the latest price increase would worsen poverty, reduce production capacity, and lead to more job losses, exacerbating Nigeria’s existing economic challenges.
“We challenge the government to return to the drawing board and present a blueprint for inclusive economic growth and national development instead of these sporadic, ad-hoc responses,” Ajaero said.
He emphasized that the new fuel price hike has once again disrupted the lives of Nigerians, deepening poverty and worsening economic conditions. “People only get poorer with each increase,” he added, calling on the government to reverse the decision as previous hikes had not yielded any positive outcomes.
Ajaero also called for greater transparency from the government on its economic plans, insisting that Nigerians deserve to know the country’s future direction.
“The government should be bold enough to tell Nigerians where they intend to take the country,” the statement concluded.
