NLC demands wage awards, naira crude for refiners as petrol hits N1,430/litre
NLC President Joe Ajaero urged the federal government to approve emergency wage awards for workers nationwide, allocate crude oil to local refiners in naira, and expand national storage capacity to cushion the impact of high petrol prices. In a statement titled “Save the Situation Now,” Ajaero warned that petrol now sells for about ₦1,430 per litre in major cities, with even higher prices in less accessible locations, worsening economic hardship.
The labour movement noted that while government pressure on oil marketers to reduce pump prices had begun to yield results from lower international crude prices, a resurgence of Gulf conflict has driven a new surge. Ajaero argued that as an oil‑producing nation, Nigeria should buffer citizens from external shocks, especially when the government earns a windfall of USD35‑40 per barrel above budget—equivalent to trillions of naira monthly.
He called for immediate measures to shield households and businesses, stressing that wage awards, naira crude sales to refiners, and expanded storage would create jobs, add economic value, and help address mutating security challenges. The NLC also urged action on recent insecurity.
Will you support wage subsidies and local crude allocations as a way to ease fuel‑price pain, or do you believe the government should rely solely on market forces to dictate pump prices?