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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the immediate reduction of petrol prices and implementation of a nationwide wage award for workers, as it lamented the worsening cost of living in the country.
The NLC, in an Independence Day statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, also demanded the implementation of tax relief measures agreed with the Federal Government, expedited negotiations for a new national minimum wage for 2027 and a reduction in the cost of governance.
According to the labour centre, the real value of workers’ wages has been eroded by inflation, while rising petrol and transportation costs have continued to push up the prices of food, school fees, rent and other necessities. It said petrol now sells for N1,430 per litre or higher in major cities, with prices even higher in remote areas.
The NLC described transportation costs as a major driver of inflation, insisting that reducing the cost of petrol was necessary to ease the hardship being experienced by Nigerians.
“First, we demand that government seek ways to immediately reduce the price of petrol as transportation costs are the central transmission mechanism of inflation in Nigeria. Without cutting this chain, any effort to ease the suffering of the people is futile,” it said.
The labour union also demanded the immediate implementation of a nationwide wage award for workers in the federal, state and local governments. It said the wage award should be viewed as an emergency intervention to cushion the effect of the rising cost of living and not as charity.
The NLC further accused the Federal Government of failing to implement tax relief measures contained in the October 2023 Memorandum of Understanding signed with labour.
It called for the immediate implementation of the agreed tax incentives.
On minimum wage, the NLC demanded the immediate constitution of a tripartite committee to negotiate a new wage standard for 2027.
It argued that the N70,000 minimum wage had already been eroded by inflation even before its implementation.
“We demand the immediate establishment of a tripartite committee to ensure that a new wage standard for 2027 is formulated and legislated before the year runs out,” it said.
The labour centre also called on the government to reduce the cost of governance and ensure greater transparency in the management of public resources.
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It said government must lead by example, arguing that the extravagance of public officials was unacceptable at a time workers were being asked to tighten their belts.
The NLC also demanded increased investment in roads, hospitals, schools and other social infrastructure, saying functional public services and good roads were necessary to reduce transportation costs and improve economic efficiency.
It further urged the government to create genuine opportunities for young Nigerians, particularly against the backdrop of increasing desperation and irregular migration.
On insecurity, the labour centre said the worsening security situation had compounded Nigeria’s economic challenges, claiming that nearly 2,000 Nigerians died from violence in the first quarter of 2026.
It said farmers were unable to farm and workers in some parts of the country were increasingly afraid to report to work because of insecurity.
The NLC linked poverty, unemployment and inequality to insecurity, arguing that addressing economic hardship and inequality was essential to tackling violence and crime.
On the 2027 general elections, the labour centre warned political parties and other political actors against manipulating elections, intimidating voters or exploiting ethnic and religious divisions.
It said workers would not forget politicians and political parties that, according to it, ignored workers’ demands after securing power.
The NLC said it would, at the appropriate time, use its Workers’ Charter to communicate its position on policies and candidates to workers, while stressing that workers had the right to independent political thought and choice.
The labour centre said it would continue to advocate decent wages, safe workplaces, accountability in governance and the effective use of public resources for the benefit of Nigerians.
