The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has demanded urgent intervention from the Federal Government over the continued increase in the price of petrol, with pump prices approaching or reaching ₦1,500 per litre in some locations.
The latest increase has heightened concerns among workers and households already grappling with rising transportation, food and other living costs.
The labour union’s demand comes amid a fresh increase in the price of petrol supplied by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which recently raised its gantry price to ₦1,350 per litre.
The adjustment has been followed by higher retail prices at filling stations in different parts of the country, with some outlets reportedly selling petrol at around ₦1,500 per litre.
The NLC has expressed concern that the rising cost of petrol could further worsen the economic pressure on Nigerian workers, particularly because transportation costs are closely linked to the price of petroleum products.
Higher fuel prices can also increase the cost of transporting food and other commodities, while businesses that depend on petrol for logistics and electricity generation may face higher operating expenses.
The labour movement is therefore calling for concrete measures to prevent the latest increase from placing additional pressure on workers and vulnerable households.
The development comes more than three years after the Federal Government removed the petrol subsidy in May 2023, a policy that resulted in significant changes to petrol pricing and has continued to generate debate across the country.
Since then, petrol prices have undergone several adjustments, influenced by factors including crude oil prices, foreign exchange movements, local refining costs and market conditions.
The NLC has consistently maintained that government policies affecting the cost of living must take into account the purchasing power of Nigerian workers and the broader economic consequences of rising prices.
With petrol now selling at significantly higher prices in some parts of the country, attention is increasingly focused on how the Federal Government will respond to the latest concerns raised by organised labour.
For Nigerian workers, the issue extends beyond the filling station. Higher fuel costs can translate into increased transport fares, more expensive goods and services and additional pressure on already stretched household incomes.
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