The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the immediate reversal of the recent petrol pump price hike across the country. In a statement released on Tuesday by its President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC expressed a strong sense of betrayal following the increase. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (NNPCL) reportedly raised the pump price from ₦568-₦617 per litre to ₦855-₦897 per litre, depending on the location, despite previous assurances that the price would remain stable.
Ajaero highlighted that the acceptance of the ₦70,000 minimum wage by the NLC was based on the understanding that there would be no increase in the petrol price. He recalled a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, where the options of either a ₦250,000 minimum wage with a petrol price increase to between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 per litre, or a ₦70,000 minimum wage with the petrol price retained at ₦568-₦617 per litre were presented. The NLC opted for the latter, to avoid further economic hardship for Nigerians.
The NLC also called for the reversal of the recent 250% electricity tariff hike and demanded the release of individuals arrested during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests. Ajaero warned that the NLC would be meeting soon to decide on further actions, which would be communicated to the public.