The Nigeria Labour Congress has warned that Nigerians could face an alarming petrol price of up to N5,000 per litre, amid rising concerns over the recent fuel price hike.
This comes after petrol stations operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had raised the cost of fuel to more than N850 per litre nationwide.
It was reported that the directive to increase the price from N568 to N855 per litre was issued by the NNPC management, mandating an immediate adjustment at their outlets across the country.
In an interview with newsmen, NLC spokesperson Benson Upah voiced his apprehension over the situation, stressing that the increase goes against the terms agreed upon with the federal government. He indicated that the union is preparing to deliberate on its next steps.
“We are planning to have a meeting with the appropriate organs of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). Those organs will take the decisions. We will take decisions that we believe would be in the best interest of our members and possibly, this country,” Upah stated.
He further expressed the palpable anger within the labour movement and across the nation, highlighting that the dissatisfaction isn’t limited to the NLC.
“The mood, I can tell you, is that of anger, and I want to say that it is not only within the Nigerian Labour Congress that you have anger. Virtually every Nigerian is angry, except that first one per cent that is maintained by the state. You know, that one per cent has everything; we give them everything, those are the only ones who are not complaining. Every other Nigerian is complaining. So, our mood is reflective of the general mood of the country,” Upah noted.
Upah also emphasized the sense of betrayal felt by labour leaders following the recent fuel price hike, which came after what they believed to be a good-faith negotiation.
He explained that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, had previously dismissed the union’s claim of an agreement, saying there was no such accord.
“After the announcement, the next day, a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, Mr. Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said we were lying and there was no agreement. We want to reiterate that we feel betrayed by the present increase in the pump price of petroleum products,” Upah continued.
He went on to recount key moments from their discussions with the President, revealing that two proposals had been put forward by the government during the negotiations.
The first involved a recommendation to raise the minimum wage to N250,000, with a corresponding hike in petrol prices to N1,500 or N2,000 per litre. The alternative was to maintain the existing minimum wage of N62,000, leaving fuel prices unchanged.
“When Mr. President called for the negotiation, recall that we were stuck at N62,000, and he made two offers; the first was to agree on the N250,000 we recommended while the price of PMS will rise to N1,500 or N2,000, or he will pay N62,000 and the status quo remains. He told us we had a few hours to consult. The labor leaders did not take the bait; rather, we asked to be given more time and later requested at least one week to consult outside the Villa. At the end of that one week, the Presidency met again, and the labor leaders unambiguously said we would not accept the offer of N250,000,” Upah explained.
Labour leaders, considering the potential impact of such a move on ordinary Nigerians, ultimately refused the government’s offer to raise wages alongside fuel costs.
Their rejection was driven by concerns about the hardship it would cause for the general populace.
“This was out of consideration for the well-being of the average Nigerian, because we said, ‘What would be the effect of this on the ordinary person?’” Upah said, stressing that the government’s actions have led to a situation far beyond wage negotiation, deeply affecting the daily lives of all Nigerians.
Upah further highlighted that Nigerians have struggled to cope with the consequences of the first wave of fuel price increases, following the removal of fuel subsidies on May 29, 2023. The resultant rise in the cost of education, transportation, and food had already placed a significant burden on citizens.
“Since the first wave of price increase, occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, Nigerians have been trying to reorder their lives to accept the fate they never bargained for. Coming to terms with a 500 per cent hike in the cost of education, transportation, food, and everything else is not easy. At a time they were just trying to adjust to the new normal, you introduce another shock,” he added, indicating that the country has now moved from a state of pain to one of uncertainty.
“When the president mentioned that fuel prices will increase to N2,000, one of the labor leaders interjected him and said, ‘Sir, you have removed fuel subsidy, so which other thing are you removing again?’ Remember, the subsidy was removed and prices were stabilized. So, how many times are you removing subsidy that you have removed? Subsidy was never restored at any point in time as they claimed. So, what will inform moving the pump price of PMS from N650 to N1,500 or N2,000?” he questioned.
Upah closed with a stark warning, noting that the future could see even more severe fuel price increases, stating, “I want to tell you something, what this signals is that Nigerians have not seen the end yet. We may end up paying nothing less than N5,000 per litre for fuel in this country. We hope not to get there, but if we do, the decision will be left to Nigerians.”
