The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to urgently implement relief measures for workers amid skyrocketing petrol prices, now ranging from N1,170 to N1,300 per litre, driven by the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Save Nigerians From This Shock: An Urgent Relief Has Become Necessary,” signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and released on Sunday, the labour body described the price surge as a “direct assault on the Nigerian people” resulting from global oil market disruptions caused by the military escalation now in its third week.
The conflict has pushed Brent crude oil prices up by around 3% to highs of $106.50 per barrel, with earlier peaks near $110 amid fears over supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. In Nigeria, the Dangote Refinery has repeatedly adjusted its ex-depot prices—rising from N774 per litre on March 2 to N874, then N995, and most recently N1,175—reflecting volatile international crude movements.
Despite occasional temporary reductions, the refinery's pricing has failed to shield consumers from global shocks, contrary to expectations that domestic refining would bring stability.
Ajaero emphasized that Nigerian workers are bearing the brunt of a “global capitalist crisis they did not create,” with soaring fuel costs inflating transportation expenses, food prices, and overall living expenses, rendering even minimum-wage earnings insufficient for basic survival.
He criticized the government's failure to revive public refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, which has left the country vulnerable to “imperialist rivalries” abroad while domestic monopolistic tendencies in the downstream sector deepen hardship.
The NLC highlighted a projected N30 trillion oil windfall from elevated crude prices during the crisis, warning that these revenues must not vanish as in past episodes but instead be redirected to support citizens. The union accused authorities of using the Middle East conflict as an excuse to implement policies that exacerbate poverty.
Key demands include:
Immediate wage awards and cost-of-living allowances (COLA) for all workers to offset the economic pain.
Expansion of transparent, inflation-adjusted cash transfer programs for vulnerable citizens.
Tax relief measures, such as suspending regressive taxes on low-income earners and shifting focus to the informal sector.
Accelerated rehabilitation and operation of public refineries to achieve energy independence and reduce reliance on volatile global markets.
The NLC also urged sincere social dialogue with workers and citizens, stressing that the government's primary duty is to safeguard welfare and security rather than deepen suffering.
Supporting the concerns, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) President Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry warned that continued escalation could drive petrol prices toward N2,000 per litre and diesel to N3,000, calling for the establishment of a domestic energy bank to provide financing support to the sector.
The price volatility has already triggered widespread economic strain, with transport fares rising sharply and broader inflation pressures mounting. No immediate government response to the NLC's demands has been reported, as the administration faces growing calls for intervention to protect citizens from the fallout of the international crisis.
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