By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA — The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to approve wage awards for workers to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices, which it said had worsened the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
The NLC also urged the government to sell sufficient crude oil in naira to local refineries and expand the country’s national storage capacity to strengthen energy security and prepare for emergencies.
The demands were contained in a statement titled, “Save the Situation Now,” issued by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The labour centre expressed concern over the rising pump price of petrol across the country, saying the development had increased transportation costs and put further pressure on household incomes.
The NLC said petrol was selling for about ₦1,430 per litre in some major cities, while prices were higher in less accessible areas.
It argued that increases in transportation costs would have wider implications for the prices of essential goods and services, including food, school fees, rent and other household expenses.
The statement read: “We are seriously concerned by the rising cost of the pump price of petrol across the country. In mega cities where petrol is readily available, the cost ranges from N1,430. In less accessible areas, the cost is much worse.
“This has inflicted incalculable damage not only on wages but also on our state of being as a people and as a nation.”
The NLC attributed the latest increase partly to the resurgence of conflict in the Gulf but argued that Nigeria, as an oil-producing country with local refining capacity, should be better positioned to cushion the impact of external shocks.
It called for immediate measures to create a buffer against fluctuations in international crude and petroleum product prices.
“As part of the process of creating this buffer, we urge the government to immediately give reasonable wage awards to workers; sell sufficient crude in naira to our local refineries; and expand our national storage capacity in pursuance of meeting energy emergencies and security,” the statement said.
According to the labour union, the measures would create jobs, generate economic value and help address emerging security challenges.
The NLC also argued that there was nothing wrong with government subsidising citizens’ needs in emergency situations, adding that oil-producing countries had adopted various interventions to cushion the effects of economic shocks.
It further claimed that the Federal Government was benefiting from higher international crude prices, which it said were between $35 and $40 per barrel above the budget benchmark.
“The government ought to be satisfied with this, as it is a windfall,” the union said.
On local refining, the NLC expressed concern that some domestic refineries were importing crude despite Nigeria’s status as an oil-producing country.
“On a long-term basis, we are equally concerned that local refineries are importing crude. This is unreasonable and unacceptable, and defeats the logic and purpose of local capacity,” it said.
The labour centre also questioned the government’s handling of deregulation, arguing that it should intervene to protect citizens from the effects of rising energy costs.
“We are of the view that a government that seeks re-election in the next few months cannot afford to stand by and watch marketers inflict suffering on the citizenry in the name of deregulation. Labour has an obligation to speak out or act accordingly,” the NLC said.
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