-Deborah Akinyosoye
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a fierce rebuke to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, condemning the continuous hike in fuel prices, which it says is exacerbating poverty and unemployment across the nation.
The NLC claims that the government’s policies are not only misguided but are also making life increasingly difficult for Nigerians.
In a statement titled “What Next After Increase In Pump Price?” issued on Wednesday, the NLC described the recent fuel price increase by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as a deliberate attempt to worsen the economic hardship faced by the population.
The statement was signed by the NLC’s National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The latest price hike, which saw the cost of petrol skyrocket to N1,030 per litre at NNPCL-owned filling stations, comes just one month after the company had previously raised the price to over N850 per litre.
This new development has sparked outrage, as Nigerians continue to struggle with the soaring cost of living.
The NLC did not mince words in its reaction, accusing Tinubu’s administration of failing to provide the necessary measures to mitigate the impact of such hikes.
“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,” the statement read.
According to the labour union, the government’s lack of a cohesive economic plan is evident, and it criticized the NNPCL for acting as a “hegemonic monopoly” by dictating fuel prices.
The NLC further challenged the government to present a clear, inclusive blueprint for economic growth and national development, rather than relying on what it called “spasmodic ad hocism and palliative policy.”
The NLC warned that the latest fuel price hike would have dire consequences for Nigeria’s already fragile economy.
It noted that the increase would “deepen poverty” as production capacities would decline, more jobs would be lost, and the ripple effects would worsen the standard of living for millions of Nigerians.
In its call to action, the NLC urged the government to reverse the price hike immediately, stating that previous increases had only succeeded in making Nigerians poorer.
“But more fundamentally, the government should be bold enough to tell Nigerians in advance the destination it wants to take the country,” the NLC added.