“Nigerians are getting poorer” — NLC Urges FG to Reverse Petrol Price Hike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the federal government to reverse the recent petrol price hike, citing deepening poverty and worsening economic conditions for Nigerians.

On Wednesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited raised petrol prices across its retail outlets, sparking outrage from various sectors of the population. In response, NLC President Joe Ajaero expressed the union’s strong disapproval, stating that the increase comes at a time when Nigerians are already struggling to cope with existing financial pressures.

Ajaero emphasized that the price hike has disrupted the already fragile economic plans of many Nigerians, particularly affecting production capacities and leading to further job losses. He warned that the move would exacerbate poverty nationwide, with severe consequences for both businesses and individual livelihoods.

“We challenge the government to return to the drawing board and present a comprehensive plan for inclusive economic growth, rather than continuing with ad hoc policies and short-term palliatives,” Ajaero said in a statement. He urged the government to take immediate steps to reverse the increase, stressing that previous hikes have not yielded positive outcomes but have only pushed more people into poverty.

In his closing remarks, Ajaero called for greater transparency from the government, demanding clarity on its long-term economic vision for the country.