The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has voiced strong opposition to the recent increase in petrol prices, urging the federal government to reverse the decision.
This comes after the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, soared past N1,000 per litre at filling stations across the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero criticized the government for raising fuel prices without implementing necessary measures to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians.
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He expressed concern over the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) acting as a monopoly in controlling fuel prices, which, he said, undermines the principles of a competitive market.
Ajaero called on the government to consider the suffering of citizens and take immediate steps to bring relief to the masses by reversing the hike.
“We are dismayed by the latest increase in the pump price of petrol. It looks like the only thing this government is known for is increasing the pump price of petrol without commensurate capacity of Nigerians or mitigatory measures,” Ajaero said.
He further called on the government to develop a long-term economic plan, instead of relying on short-term solutions and palliatives. According to Ajaero, the continuous price hikes will only worsen poverty, reduce production capacity, and lead to further job losses.
“The latest wave of increase has grossly altered the calculations of Nigerians once again at a time they were reluctantly coming to terms with their new realities,” he added.
The NLC urged the government to not only reverse the recent hike but also to communicate its economic vision clearly to the public, rather than imposing sudden and disruptive measures.
