The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to urgently introduce emergency palliatives, including wage awards for workers nationwide, and allocate crude oil to local refineries in naira amid rising petrol prices.
The labour union also urged the government to increase the country’s national storage capacity as part of efforts to strengthen energy security and prepare for emergencies.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the union warned that the latest increase in petrol prices would further deepen the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.
Petrol prices have risen to about N1,430 per litre in major cities, while consumers in less accessible areas are reportedly paying more.
In the statement titled “Save the Situation Now”, Ajaero questioned why a government seeking re-election in the coming months would allow marketers to impose additional hardship on Nigerians under the guise of deregulation.
The NLC argued that government intervention, including subsidies for citizens’ needs, was justified, particularly during emergencies.
Ajaero also noted that increases in transport fares often lead to higher costs of food, accommodation, school fees and other essential goods and services.
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.
“It is an established fact that when transportation costs go up, everything else follows, including school fees, rents, tariffs, foodstuff, etc.
“These new costs continue to inflict or deepen poverty among the populace, stressing the quality of life to the limits.
“This new surge has come at a time when the government’s pressure on marketers to reduce the pump price to reflect crude prices in the international spot market was beginning to yield dividends.
“Yet, even as this new wave of costs is caused by the resurgence of the conflict in the Gulf, our situation need not be this bleak.
“Coupled with the fact that we are an oil-producing country, we have sufficient local refining capacity, even as this substantially resides with the private sector “As a nation and as a people endowed with enormous fossil resources, we are deserving of a certain level of protection or buffer against the gales from the Gulf and, indeed, other gales.
Ajaero called on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to protect households and businesses from the effects of rising fuel costs.
“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.
“These measures will create jobs and economic value, as well as deal with mutating security challenges.
“There is nothing wrong with the government subsidising the needs of citizens, especially in emergency situations like this.
“At the moment, there is no oil-producing country we know of that has not intervened or come up with sustainable palliatives in one way or another in these perilous times.
“These measures are all the more necessary and urgent because the government is making extra money in the international spot market, between USD35 and USD40 per barrel above the budgeted figure. This translates to trillions of naira a month. The government ought to be satisfied with this, as it is a windfall.’’