Labour union demands immediate reversal of new petrol price in Nigeria
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the federal government’s increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), describing it as a betrayal of trust.
This development followed reports of fuel being sold above N1,000 at petrol stations across Nigeria from Tuesday.
In a statement by NLC President Joe Ajaero, in Abuja, Labour expressed shock and disappointment at the government’s decision, which it claimed was made without prior consultation or notice.
Reports say during negotiations for the new national minimum wage, one condition for accepting the proposed N70,000 was the government’s commitment to maintain the existing fuel prices.
Labour lamented feeling a deep sense of betrayal as the federal government clandestinely increased the pump price of PMS.
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Ajaero stated that one of the reasons for accepting N70,000 as the national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of PMS would not be increased, even though they knew that N70,000 was insufficient.
According to NLC, the federal government offered the option of a higher minimum wage of N250,000 with a pump price of PMS between N1,500 and N2,000 or a lower minimum wage of N70,000 with the old fuel rates, and that organised labour opted for the latter, unwilling to burden Nigerians with further economic strain.
Labour lamented that the government has violated this understanding, even when the reduced new minimum wage is yet to be implemented. Amid ongoing fuel scarcity, the increase in petrol prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) from N617 to N897 per litre at its retail outlets in Abuja, N855 in Lagos, and over N1000 in other parts of the country had caused a lot of misgiving among Nigerians.
A directive from the NNPC Retail management on Tuesday indicated approval for an upward review of PMS pump prices across the country.
“This is to inform you that NNPC Retail Management has approved an upward review of PMS pump price from N617/litre to N897/litre, effective today, September 3, 2024. Please ensure all your pumps and totems (price boards)/MIDs reflect the new PMS price of N897/litre,” the message said.
Many Nigerians have expressed frustration with the current situation.
The NNPC, the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria, had attributed the price increase to financial strain caused by the high cost of importing the commodity. The company has acknowledged significant debts owed to petrol suppliers, which has placed considerable pressure on its operations.
FG denies ordering price increase
Meanwhile, the federal government has addressed reports circulating on social media, claiming that the minister of state for petroleum resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to inflate petroleum prices to N1000 per litre above the approved pump price.
The federal government, in a statement signed by the special adviser to the minister, Nneamaka Okafor, said the report was concocted and ill-conceived to sow discord and confusion in the oil industry.
“There was never a time the federal government interfered with petroleum pricing at NNPC, let alone give directives for price increment. The federal government is compelled to address the outright falsehoods currently being circulated on social media, which claim that the minister of petroleum resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to inflate petroleum prices above the approved pump price.”
“We categorically condemn these claims as baseless, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to incite public discontent.”
“We challenge anyone in possession of any evidence—be it written documents, audio, or video recordings—that supports these fabrications to make it public. Such a claim is entirely untrue and should be recognised as an intentional effort to mislead the public.”
