Joe Ajaero, President of the National Labour Congress (NLC), has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu proposed sponsoring the union’s tour of West African nations where petrol prices have reached up to N2,000 per litre. Ajaero made this revelation during a two-day workshop held in Lagos, which focused on the increasing fuel prices and the strain they are placing on Nigerian workers and their livelihoods.
Ajaero highlighted the alarming rate at which fuel prices have risen in Nigeria following the government‘s subsidy removal. He argued that workers and citizens are bearing the brunt of the price hikes, leading to escalating costs of living and diminished purchasing power. According to Ajaero, President Tinubu suggested that the NLC visit other West African countries with higher fuel prices as a way of understanding the broader regional context.
However, Ajaero stressed that comparing Nigeria to other countries with higher petrol prices was not a solution to the problem. Instead, he called for immediate government intervention to cushion the effects of the high fuel prices, particularly for workers who are already struggling to make ends meet.
The labour leader emphasized that the government should focus on long-term policies that alleviate the burden on Nigerians rather than justify the fuel price increases by referencing regional trends. He urged the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens and address the challenges posed by rising fuel costs in the short term.
As fuel prices continue to soar, the NLC’s stance on the issue is critical in shaping the ongoing discussions between the government and workers’ unions, with many Nigerians awaiting meaningful action to ease their financial burdens.
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