Nigerians Could Pay N5000 Per Litre for Fuel Under Tinubu Government, NLC Warns
September 7, 2024
By Okafor Joseph Afam
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised alarms that the price of petrol could skyrocket to N5000 per litre under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. This warning follows reports that filling stations owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) have already increased fuel prices to over N850 per litre across the country.
It has been alleged that the NNPC implemented this price hike in compliance with a directive from its management, mandating an increase from N568 to N855 per litre. In response, Benson Upah, spokesperson for the NLC, voiced deep concern about the potential further escalation in fuel prices during an interview with Daily Trust. Upah warned that fuel could soon cost Nigerians as much as N5000 per litre if current trends continue.
He expressed frustration, noting that the latest increase contradicted the agreements previously reached between the NLC and the federal government. “We are planning to have a meeting with the appropriate organs of the Nigerian Labour Congress. Those organs will take decisions in the best interest of our members and, possibly, the entire country,” Upah said.
According to him, the mood within the NLC is one of anger—a sentiment that he says is shared by nearly all Nigerians, except for a select one percent who benefit from state support. “Virtually every Nigerian is angry. We are reflective of the general mood of the country,” Upah added.
Following the fuel price hike, Presidential aide Abdulaziz Abdulaziz denied the existence of any agreement with the NLC regarding fuel pricing, leading to accusations of betrayal from the labor union. Upah further explained the tense negotiations between the labor leaders and President Tinubu, detailing offers that would have either stabilized wages at N62,000 or increased them to N250,000, with fuel prices rising to between N1,500 and N2,000 per litre.
However, labor leaders rejected this offer, citing the negative impact it would have on ordinary Nigerians. “The president acted in breach of his promise to labor leaders,” Upah said, while emphasizing that the issue has outgrown wage disputes and is now about the survival of average Nigerians.
Since the removal of the fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, Nigerians have been grappling with an increase in living costs, including education, transportation, and food. Now, with fuel prices escalating yet again, Upah warned that the uncertainty of the situation could push Nigerians from pain into deeper hardship.
He concluded by stressing that the labor movement remains committed to fighting for Nigerians’ welfare, but warned that if current policies persist, “Nigerians may end up paying nothing less than N5,000 per litre for fuel in this country.”
The NLC has hinted that further actions may be taken, depending on the outcome of its upcoming meetings, as the union seeks to address this growing crisis.
