By Abigail Philip David
Organized labour has expressed dissatisfaction with the latest increase in petrol prices, which now surpasses N1,000 per litre. Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, voiced these concerns at a book launch in Abuja, criticizing the negative impact of the deregulation policies.
Ajaero pointed out that fuel prices had risen twice in the last two months, worsening the economic situation for Nigerian workers and the general population. He questioned the rationale behind increasing fuel prices without adjusting the national minimum wage beyond N70,000.
The NLC president emphasized that the majority of Nigerians, including informal workers, are not covered by the wage increase and will continue to suffer under the weight of rising costs. Ajaero also criticized the government’s approach to continually raising fuel prices without providing sustainable alternatives or considering inflationary pressures that have eroded the value of the minimum wage.
He further sought clarification from the National Assembly on the extent of the minimum wage law’s coverage, noting that past agreements applied to employers with at least 25 workers. However, recent statements suggest the new law might cover all workers, regardless of their workplace size.
Ajaero expressed frustration at the current situation, saying, “As we are sitting here, they have increased the fuel pump price again. What do we do in that instance? They are expecting us to buy it.”
He criticized the government’s broken promises regarding the Port Harcourt Refinery, which has yet to start functioning despite agreements. He also questioned the effectiveness of deregulation, noting that promised competition has not materialized.
On the issue of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, Ajaero remarked that while the government has delivered 14 out of the promised 20 CNG buses, the lack of refilling stations renders them ineffective.
In response to the NNPC Ltd.’s decision to hand over its role as the off-taker from Dangote Refinery to independent marketers, leading to petrol prices exceeding N1,000 at filling stations, the NLC called for an immediate reversal of the price hike.
Ajaero also criticized the NNPC for acting as a monopoly in determining fuel prices, which contradicts the principles of a competitive market. He urged the government to present a comprehensive economic plan rather than relying on temporary solutions and palliative measures, warning that the price hike would deepen poverty, reduce production capacity, and lead to job losses.
Fuel queues have resurfaced in Lagos and other regions as a result of the price increase. Many filling stations, including those along Ikorodu Road, Ikeja, and Bariga, have temporarily closed. Prices at NNPC stations have risen to N998 per litre, while independent marketers are charging as much as N1,100.
In related news, the federal government has launched a “Convert Now, Pay Later” portal to help Nigerians switch their vehicles from petrol to CNG. The government hopes the payment plan will ease the transition to more affordable and sustainable fuel alternatives.
Meanwhile, Senator Shehu Sani and the President of the Nigerian Baptist Conference, Rev. Israel Akanji, have called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the fuel price crisis, noting that the continuous price hikes are worsening the economic hardship faced by Nigerians. They emphasized the need for more sustainable government interventions to ease the burden on citizens.
