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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has kicked against the latest petrol price hike.
The NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, criticized the government for resorting to unilateral decisions without proper consultation with stakeholders.
Recall that RocketParrot reported a hike in the pump price of premium motor spirit. AK.A, petrol was hiked to N617/litre and as high as N620 in some states in the country.
In its defence, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari said market forces were responsible for the hike.
NLC further faulted the N8,000 cash transfer palliatives to the poorest citizens, adding that the government's action is not addressing the root causes of the economic hardship.
Ajaero said,
“We do not want to provide a cover for the government to get away with the hardship it has imposed on the people. We do not want to legitimise impunity.“It is important to inform Nigerians that despite having shown our readiness to commence work in the committees, the federal government, which convenes the meetings, is yet to inaugurate the National Steering Committee thus stalling the work of the proposed committees.
“As a result, if the government does not want to stop these fortuitous actions that it is pursuing in the name of palliatives, we will be forced to constructively review our engagement with the government on this vexatious issue and take matters into our own hands.”
In line with the NLC agitation, various states are feeling the brunt of the petrol price increase and the citizens are demanding better means to alleviate the suffering incurred by the removal of fuel subsidy.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), transport fares have risen sharply, and ordinary Nigerians are voicing their frustration at the worsening economic conditions.
Filling stations in Bauchi State have been affected, leading to fuel queues and shortages.
Similarly, Ogun State has seen an increase in fuel queues, and many filling stations have adjusted their prices to reflect the new N617 per litre rate.
In Kano, residents expressed disappointment in the government's handling of the subsidy removal, calling for measures to alleviate the burden on the people.
The increase in petrol prices is attributed to market forces and rising crude oil prices, as stated by the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mele Kyari.
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) and the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) have urged the federal government to review the minimum wage to N100,000 per month to help mitigate the hardship faced by Nigerians.
The current economic situation has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians, with many venting their frustrations on social media platforms like Twitter.
As the situation unfolds, Nigerians hope for a comprehensive and effective response from the government to ease the economic burden and bring relief to the struggling population.
