NLC Wants Lower Petrol Prices, Wage Award
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded an immediate reduction in petrol prices and a nationwide wage award for Nigerian workers. The union also wants the Federal Government to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
NLC President Joe Ajaero made the demands in an Independence Day statement titled,
“Our Hope Depends on the Choices We Make and the Actions We Take.”
He said rising costs of transportation, food, rent and education continue to weaken workers’ purchasing power.
The NLC linked much of the pressure to higher petrol prices after the Federal Government removed the subsidy in 2023. The union said petrol now sells for about N1,430 per litre in major cities and costs even more in some remote areas.
“Without cutting this chain, any effort to ease the suffering of the people is futile,” the NLC said.
It argued that high fuel prices increase transport costs, which then push up the prices of food and other essentials.
Labour Renews Demand for Wage Support
The labour union also wants the government to introduce a nationwide wage award for federal, state and local government workers. It described the measure as an emergency response to falling real incomes.
“A wage award is not charity. It is an emergency intervention against the collapse of real income,” the NLC said.
The demand follows the October 2023 agreement between the government and organised labour after subsidy removal. That agreement included a N35,000 monthly wage award for federal workers. It also called for similar relief for state and local government employees.
However, the NLC says the government has not fully delivered some of the agreed measures. The union specifically called for the implementation of promised tax relief and other measures designed to reduce the impact of subsidy removal.
NLC Says N70,000 Minimum Wage Has Lost Value
Nigeria’s current national minimum wage stands at N70,000 after President Bola Tinubu approved the figure in July 2024. Tinubu said the wage would undergo a review after three years.
The NLC, however, argues that inflation has already weakened the value of the new wage.
“The current N70,000 minimum wage was already destroyed by inflation before it was implemented,” the union said.
Consequently, labour wants the government to establish a tripartite committee immediately. The committee would work towards a new national minimum wage for 2027.
The NLC also called for lower governance costs and greater transparency in public spending. It wants more government investment in roads, hospitals, schools and other public infrastructure.
Labour Questions Subsidy Savings
The NLC also questioned how the government has used the savings from petrol subsidy removal. The union said Nigerians expected those savings to fund infrastructure and social services.
“Where exactly did the subsidy savings go?” the NLC asked.
Meanwhile, the union called for more investment in domestic refining to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petrol. It also demanded better public education, healthcare and road networks.
Beyond the economy, the NLC raised concerns about youth unemployment, migration and insecurity. It said these problems affect farming, education and healthcare.
With the 2027 general elections ahead, the union also stressed workers’ right to make independent political choices. It said its proposed Workers’ Charter would outline its positions on policies and candidates when appropriate.
The NLC said workers’ organisations should not become mere electoral tools. It maintained that workers have the right to form their own political opinions and make their own choices.
