NLC Demands Urgent Govt Relief as Petrol Prices Surge Amid US–Israel–Iran War

NLC Demands Urgent Govt Relief as Petrol Prices Surge Amid US–Israel–Iran War

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to protect Nigerians from the rising cost of petrol and the resulting economic hardship facing workers and ordinary citizens.

In a statement issued by its President, Joe Ajaero, the union warned that recent increases in petrol pump prices — now averaging between ₦1,170 and ₦1,300 per litre in many parts of the country — are placing “unbearable pressure” on households already contending with high inflation and dwindling purchasing power.

The NLC said the price surge has been driven largely by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have triggered instability in global oil markets and pushed up crude oil prices internationally.

Describing the development as “an attack on the welfare of citizens,” the labour body said Nigerian workers are bearing the brunt of a crisis they did not cause.

“The military escalation involving the U.S., Israel and Iran has sent shockwaves through global oil markets,” the union said. “Consequently, petrol prices in Nigeria have skyrocketed to between ₦1,170 and ₦1,300 per litre. This is a direct assault on the Nigerian people.”

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The NLC also cited projections from the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) that Nigeria could earn up to ₦30 trillion in oil windfall due to the price spikes, urging the government to channel such revenue towards alleviating hardship for citizens rather than allowing it to “grow wings.”

To cushion the impact of the crisis on workers and vulnerable populations, the NLC outlined several urgent demands, including:

• An immediate wage award and cost‑of‑living allowance (COLA) for workers;
• Expanded cash transfers to support vulnerable citizens;
• Tax relief for low‑income earners;
• A clear timeline for the operationalisation of all public refineries in Nigeria.

The labour union argued that the current crisis has exposed structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, stressing that continued reliance on global market pricing leaves the country vulnerable to external shocks.

According to the NLC, even privately owned refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, have responded to global price volatility by increasing their own pricing, reinforcing the need for a functioning public refining system.

“Our public refineries must be operational,” the NLC said, pointing to facilities in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna as vital to achieving energy security and reducing dependence on volatile global markets.

The union warned that rising fuel prices have already driven up transportation costs and contributed to worsening food inflation, placing even greater strain on workers and their families.

“This crisis has brutally exposed the fragility of Nigeria’s downstream sector,” the NLC said. “As long as we remain dependent on a market‑driven pricing structure tied to global vicissitudes, we will remain hostages to wars and speculators.”

The union stressed the need for meaningful engagement between the government and organised labour to address Nigeria’s broader economic challenges and protect the welfare of citizens.

“We are not a statistic; we are the engine of this nation,” the statement added. “When the engine overheats, the entire vehicle crashes. We demand action. We demand justice. We demand survival.”

NLC Demands Urgent Govt Relief as Petrol Prices Surge Amid US–Israel–Iran War