NLC urges immediate reversal of fuel price hike, says Tinubu’s policies are hurting Nigerians
By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the recent hike in fuel prices, and accused the government of deepening poverty and unemployment across the country.
The NLC expressed its displeasure in a statement titled, “What Next After Increase In Pump Price?” issued on Wednesday by the union’s National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
This reaction followed the latest move by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to increase the fuel price to ₦1030 per litre, just one month after a previous hike to over ₦850 per litre.
“We are dismayed by the latest increase in the pump price of petrol. It looks like the only thing this government is known for is increase in the pump price of petrol without commensurate capacity of Nigerians or mitigatory measures,” Ajaero stated.
He also criticised the government for failing to provide a comprehensive strategy for economic growth and development, calling instead for a reversal of the price hike.
Challenging the logic behind the decision, the NLC noted, “Even following the logic of market forces, we find it an aberration that a private company (NNPCL) is the one fixing prices and projecting itself as a hegemonic monopoly.”
The NLC warned that the price hike would further impoverish Nigerians, increase job losses, and reduce production capacity across industries.
“It will further deepen poverty as production capacities dip, more jobs lost with multidimensional negative effects,” the statement read.