NLC Rejects Hike In Fuel Pump Price Of N897, Asks NNPCL To Immediately Reverse To N568

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the increase in per pump price of petrol now between N855 and N897 as announced on Tuesday by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) admidst scarcity of the product in the country, saying the hike has worsened the misery of Nigerians.

NLC President of NLC , Joe Ajaero who condemned the move in a statement, demanded an immediate reversal of the hike in fuel pump price to it original price of N568 per litre 

Ajaero accused the Federal Government of betraying labour movement with the hike 

 “We demand the immediate reversal of the latest increase in the pump of PMS across the country, release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted on the assumption of having participated in the recent protests", he stated 

“Halt the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped up charges, reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity, stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment".

“End to policies that engender hunger and insecurity, Halt to government’s  culture of terror, fear and lying. We are guided by our belief in our country and the need to secure and sustain its sovereignty, integrity and welfare of the people.”

According to the NLC President, the current administration is yet to implement the new national minimum wage of N70,000 as announced in July, 2024 

Ajaero accusing the government of insincerity,  described the policies of the current administration as traumatic.

He recalled how President Bola Tinubu gave labour leaders the option of choosing from N250,000 as the new minimum wage in exchange of petrol price at N1,500, and said they rejected the offer due to the impact it would have on Nigerians.

“But here we are, barely one month after and with the government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain. It is both traumatic and nightmarish.

“Yet, when we told the government that it’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy contradictions was patently faulty and would not last, it’s front-row cheer leaders sneered at us, saying we did not understand basic economics.