NLC condemns fuel price hike, demands immediate reversal

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has voiced strong disapproval over the recent fuel price increase by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, which saw prices jump from ₦568 to ₦885 per litre across its retail outlets.

This hike follows a denial by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, who had earlier dismissed claims that the Federal Government approved the increase.

In a statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC expressed a “deep sense of betrayal” over what it termed the secretive rise in petrol prices.

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The NLC accused the government of going back on its promises made during the minimum wage negotiations, stating that one of the reasons for accepting the ₦70,000 minimum wage was the assurance that there would be no increase in the pump price of petrol, despite recognizing that the wage was inadequate.

The congress also criticized the government’s crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protesters and the arrest of citizens on questionable charges.

The NLC is demanding an immediate rollback of the fuel price hike, the release of detained protesters, an end to arbitrary arrests and detentions, and the reversal of the 250% electricity tariff hike.

The statement further warned that the NLC would soon convene meetings to decide on the next steps, which would be communicated to the public.