The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has voiced its disappointment over the recent significant hike in fuel prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. The NNPC raised the price of petrol across its retail outlets from ₦568 to ₦885 per litre, a move that has sparked widespread concern.
This price hike followed a denial by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, who had previously stated that the Federal Government had not approved any increase in fuel prices. The NLC, in a statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, described the sudden price hike as a “deep sense of betrayal,” accusing the government of secretly raising fuel prices.
The NLC further criticized the government for breaking the promises made during negotiations for the national minimum wage. The Congress expressed frustration that the government had gone back on its commitments, particularly regarding the stability of fuel prices, which was a key consideration during the wage discussions.
In addition to condemning the fuel price hike, the NLC also denounced the government’s crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protesters and the arrest of Nigerians on what it described as trumped-up charges. The Congress demanded the immediate reversal of the fuel price increase, the release of detained protesters, an end to indiscriminate arrests and detentions, and a reversal of the 250% electricity tariff hike.
The statement read: “We are filled with a deep sense of betrayal as the federal government clandestinely increases the pump price of PMS. One of the reasons for accepting N70,000 as the national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of PMS would not be increased, even though we knew that N70,000 was not sufficient.”
“We demand the immediate reversal of the fuel price increase; the release of incarcerated protesters; an end to indiscriminate arrests and detentions; reversal of the 250% electricity tariff hike; a stop to the encroachment on the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s duties; an end to policies that engender hunger and insecurity; and a halt to the government’s culture of terror, fear, and deceit.”
“In the coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress will be meeting to take appropriate decisions which will be made public.”
