The spokesperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Benson Upah voiced his concerns about the ongoing fuel scarcity and the sharp hike in petrol prices across Nigeria, warning that the situation may only worsen if corrective measures aren’t taken.
Upah pointed out that the recent fuel price increase contradicts the agreement made between the union and the federal government. He expressed his disappointment over the breach, noting the government’s failure to uphold its promises.
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“I want to tell you something,” Upah remarked during an interview. “What this signals is that Nigerians have not seen the end yet. We may end up paying nothing less than ₦5,000 per liter for fuel in this country. We hope not to get there, but if we do, the decision will be left to Nigerians.”
Reflecting on prior discussions with the Federal Government concerning petrol prices and wages, Upah recalled that two options were proposed. The government suggested either raising the minimum wage to ₦250,000 while allowing petrol prices to skyrocket to ₦1,500 or ₦2,000 per liter or opting for a wage increase to ₦62,000 while maintaining the current fuel prices.
Upah expressed deep frustration over the latest price hike under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as a breach of trust between the government and its citizens.
