The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene to cushion the effects of the recent spike in petrol prices, demanding a cost-of-living allowance, wage award for workers, tax relief, and the immediate revival of public refineries.
The labour centre said the sharp rise in fuel prices—now selling between ₦1,170 and ₦1,300 per litre—has worsened the economic hardship facing Nigerian workers and citizens, warning that the country risks serious social unrest if urgent measures are not taken.
The NLC also accused the government of leaving Nigerians exposed to the volatile global oil market triggered by the escalating Middle East crisis, noting that the situation has exposed the fragility of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector and deepened the suffering of workers and their families.
In a statement titled “Save Nigerians From This Shock: An Urgent Relief Has Become Necessary,” signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, the Congress said Nigerian workers are paying the price for a global crisis they did not create.
“The military escalation involving the United States, Israel and Iran has sent shockwaves through global oil markets. As a result, petrol prices in Nigeria have skyrocketed to between ₦1,170 and ₦1,300 per litre,” the statement said.
According to the labour body, the crisis has exposed the vulnerability of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector and challenged the belief that local refining alone could shield the country from global price shocks.
The Congress noted that even the Dangote Refinery had adjusted its prices in line with global oil market volatility, thereby passing the burden directly to Nigerians.
“As long as Nigeria remains dependent on a market-driven pricing structure tied to global fluctuations, and refuses to revive its public refining capacity, the country will remain hostage to international conflicts and market speculation,” the statement added.
The NLC reiterated its earlier warning against the neglect of public refineries, insisting that the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries must be fully rehabilitated and made operational.
The labour centre stressed that the rising cost of petrol and diesel has made transportation increasingly unaffordable for workers, while food inflation continues to rise and wages are being eroded by the escalating cost of living.
“When workers cannot afford transportation to their workplaces, the economy stalls. When families cannot afford three meals a day, society sits on a keg of gunpowder,” the Congress warned.
The NLC also referenced projections by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group that Nigeria could earn an estimated ₦30 trillion oil windfall from the ongoing Middle East crisis.
The labour union therefore demanded urgent measures including:
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Immediate wage award and cost-of-living allowance (COLA) for workers
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Expansion and overhaul of the cash transfer programme to support vulnerable citizens
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Immediate tax relief for workers, including suspending taxes on low-income earners
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A clear timeline for the full operationalisation of all public refineries
The Congress insisted that the expected oil windfall must not disappear like previous revenues but should instead be used to support Nigerians and mitigate the economic hardship caused by the current crisis.
“Nigerian workers are being pauperised and subjected to immense suffering. Workers are not statistics—they are the engine of the nation. When the engine overheats, the entire vehicle crashes,” the statement said.
The labour body urged the government to engage in sincere social dialogue with workers and the broader public, stressing that the welfare and security of citizens must remain the government’s top priority.
“We demand action. We demand justice. We demand survival,” the NLC declared.
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