The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has raised alarm that Nigerians may soon be forced to buy petrol for as high as N5,000 per litre.
This warning was issued by Benson Upah, the NLC spokesperson, during an interview with Daily Trust.
Upah expressed frustration over the recent fuel price hike, stating that the latest increase contradicts the agreement the union had reached with the federal government.
He said:
When the president mentioned that fuel price will increase to N2,000, one of the labour leaders interjected him and said, ‘Sir, you have removed fuel subsidy, so which other thing are you removing again?’ Remember, the subsidy was removed and prices were stabilised. So, how many times are you removing subsidy, that you have removed? Subsidy was never restored at any point in time as they claimed. So, what will inform moving the pump price of PMS from N650 to N1,500 or N2,000?.
“I want to tell you something, what this signals is that Nigerians have not seen the end yet, we may end up paying nothing less than N5,000 per liter for fuel in this country. We hope not to get there but if we get there, the decision will be left to Nigerians”.
He explained that the NLC is planning a meeting to decide on the next steps, noting that the leadership is weighing options that would be in the best interest of both its members and the general Nigerian populace.
“It’s hard to preempt the outcome of the meeting,” Upah said, “but the general mood within the union, and indeed across the country, is one of anger.”
Addressing the union’s grievances, Upah said President Bola Tinubu had betrayed the NLC after promising not to increase fuel prices following the removal of the fuel subsidy.
He recalled that during negotiations, the government offered a devil’s alternative, proposing either a N250,000 minimum wage with fuel prices rising to N1,500 or maintaining the status quo.
The NLC rejected the wage offer, considering the impact on ordinary Nigerians, and later felt betrayed when the president went ahead with price hikes.
“The president acted in breach of his promise to labour leaders, and the truth is clear,” Upah stated. “Since the first wave of price increases following the removal of the subsidy, Nigerians have been grappling with a cost-of-living crisis. The latest rise in petrol prices adds another layer of pain and uncertainty.”
The union spokesperson said that the hike in fuel prices from N650 to N1,000 per litre, with a potential increase to N2,000, is unjustifiable, especially given the current national minimum wage.
Upah noted that only a few states, like Adamawa and Edo, have begun implementing higher wages.
However, most Nigerians have continued to experience worsening economic conditions, with prices of essential commodities, transportation, and education skyrocketing by as much as 500 percent.
When asked about the government’s promises to alleviate the fuel subsidy removal’s effects, such as introducing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, Upah was skeptical.
“We have not seen any real implementation of these promises,” he said, referencing failed negotiations with manufacturers like Innoson Motors and foreign firms ready to provide affordable CNG conversions for Nigerians.
Upah also pointed to the mismanagement of Nigeria’s resources, questioning why, despite increased revenue from oil and the larger allocations from the Federation Account, there has been no improvement in the quality of life for Nigerians.
“Governments are richer now, yet all we see is more pain and suffering,” he remarked.
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