Fuel Price Crisis: NLC Seeks Wage Relief as Petrol Hits N1,430
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for urgent measures to protect Nigerian workers and households from the impact of rising petrol prices, as pump prices climb to about N1,430 per litre in major cities.
The fresh increase is raising concerns over another wave of higher transportation, food and production costs, with organised labour warning that workers’ earnings are increasingly being eroded by the rising cost of living.
NLC President Joe Ajaero said the Federal Government should introduce reasonable wage awards and other emergency interventions to cushion the effect of the petrol price increase.
According to the labour leader, petrol is selling at about N1,430 per litre in major urban centres where the product is readily available, while consumers in some less accessible areas are reportedly paying more.
Ajaero argued that the consequences extend beyond motorists because higher petrol prices feed into transportation costs and ultimately affect food, school expenses, rent and other essential goods and services.
The NLC is also demanding adequate crude oil supply to domestic refineries through naira-denominated transactions, alongside an expansion of Nigeria’s strategic petroleum storage capacity.
Labour believes increased domestic refining and reliable access to locally produced crude could help strengthen Nigeria’s ability to respond to disruptions in the international energy market.
The latest price pressure comes amid elevated international crude oil prices. Earlier this week, reports indicated that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery increased its petrol gantry price from N1,265 to N1,350 per litre, an N85 increase, amid higher global crude prices and supply concerns linked to conflict in the Middle East.
The development has renewed debate over how Nigeria’s deregulated downstream petroleum market can respond to international price shocks without imposing the entire burden on consumers.
Energy analysts have noted that domestic petrol prices are influenced by several factors, including crude oil prices, exchange rates, financing, logistics, distribution costs and margins across the supply chain. Some experts have consequently advocated targeted government support for vulnerable households and transport systems rather than price controls.
Meanwhile, opposition politicians have intensified their criticism of the Federal Government’s handling of the petroleum sector.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called for greater transparency over oil revenues, Federation Account deductions and savings associated with the removal of petrol subsidy.
Atiku, through his spokesperson, questioned why Nigerians were paying as much as N1,470 per litre in some locations and demanded a comprehensive reconciliation of Federation Account revenues and deductions from 2023 to date. These are claims and demands made by Atiku and have not, in the cited report, been established as findings of an independent audit.
Social Democratic Party presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo also criticised the government’s economic policies and warned that petrol prices could rise substantially in future if current policies persist.
Adebayo’s projection is a political forecast based on assumptions about future exchange rates, international oil prices and government policy; it is not an established future petrol price.
For organised labour, however, the immediate concern remains the effect of current prices on workers.
With Nigeria’s national minimum wage at N70,000, petrol at N1,430 per litre means 10 litres would cost N14,300—more than one-fifth of the monthly minimum wage.
The NLC warned that workers cannot indefinitely absorb increases in transportation and other essential living expenses without corresponding measures to strengthen their purchasing power.
As petrol prices remain elevated, pressure is likely to continue on the Federal Government to explain what measures it will adopt to cushion households while maintaining its deregulated petroleum pricing framework.
