The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and prominent pro-democracy activists have called on Nigerians to unite in addressing the country's deepening economic challenges, blaming recent government policies for escalating hardship and declining living standards.
The call was made during a symposium held in Lagos as part of the first memorial celebration of late labour activist Comrade Abiodun Aremu. Among those in attendance were human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), members of the Joint Action Front (JAF), and labour leaders.
Speaking through the NLC's Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, NLC President Joe Ajaero described the removal of the petrol subsidy as a major factor behind the rising cost of living. He argued that the resulting increase in fuel prices has significantly reduced workers' purchasing power and intensified economic pressure on millions of Nigerians.
According to the labour movement, workers are grappling with soaring transportation costs, rising food prices, higher electricity tariffs, and the continued depreciation of the naira.
"The removal of the fuel subsidy has devastated Nigeria's working class and the masses," Ajaero said in a statement delivered on his behalf, describing the current economic climate as a "crisis of survival."
The NLC noted that many workers now struggle to afford daily transportation, while the prices of essential commodities have surged. The union cited the cost of a bag of rice, which it said has risen from about ₦30,000 to over ₦80,000, while the price of bread has tripled in recent years.
Labour leaders also expressed concern over increased electricity costs, which they said have forced some small businesses to shut down, while a weaker naira has driven up the prices of imported medicines and industrial materials.
The union accused the government of implementing economic reforms without adequate safeguards to protect vulnerable Nigerians, arguing that the policies have disproportionately affected ordinary citizens.
As part of its demands, the NLC reiterated its call for an immediate reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. The union disclosed that it had issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government, urging authorities to take urgent steps to address the widening gap between workers' wages and the cost of living.
Ajaero maintained that the current national minimum wage of ₦70,000 has been severely undermined by rising fuel prices, noting that petrol previously sold for around ₦668 per litre when the wage was approved in 2024, compared to over ₦1,400 per litre in many locations today.
"The minimum wage has lost significant value due to inflation and rising fuel costs," he said, stressing that workers should not be expected to survive under increasingly difficult economic conditions.
Beyond fuel price reductions, the NLC urged the government to introduce measures aimed at stabilising the naira, reducing inflation, and strengthening local refining capacity to improve energy security and lower costs in the long term.
Labour leaders insisted that these actions are necessary to ease the economic burden on citizens and restore confidence in the country's economic management.
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