The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to alleviate the high cost of living in the country. In its Independence Day message, the NLC urged the government to cut petrol prices and implement a wage award for workers across the country. The union also requested the commencement of talks on a new national minimum wage. The NLC stated that the current high costs of transportation, food, rent, and school fees have reduced workers' purchasing power.
The NLC attributed the worsening hardship to the rise in petrol prices following the removal of the subsidy in 2023. The union noted that petrol now sells at N1,430 per litre or higher in major cities and far more in remote areas. This surge in transportation costs has driven up the prices of food, school fees, rent, and nearly every necessity of life, while nominal wages remain stagnant. The NLC emphasized that urgent action is needed to tackle the impact of fuel prices on transport fares and the prices of other goods.
The NLC's call for a wage award is not a new demand. In October 2023, the Federal Government and labour unions agreed that federal workers would receive a monthly wage award of N35,000, with states and local governments urged to do the same. However, the NLC stressed that the current situation requires an emergency intervention to help workers whose incomes have declined. The union described the wage award as an emergency measure, rather than an act of charity.
According to the NLC, the current economic situation is having a devastating impact on workers and other Nigerians. The union stated that workers and other Nigerians are still struggling with the high costs of basic necessities. The NLC's President, Joe Ajaero, signed the Independence Day message, titled: "Our Hope Depends on the Choices We Make and the Actions We Take." The message highlighted the need for urgent action to address the suffering of the people.
The NLC's demands are aimed at mitigating the effects of the high cost of living on workers and other Nigerians. The union emphasized that any effort to ease the suffering of the people would be futile without addressing the root causes of the problem. The NLC's call for a wage award and a cut in fuel prices is a clear indication of the urgent need for action to alleviate the suffering of workers and other Nigerians.
The Federal Government has been urged to take concrete steps to address the economic challenges facing the country. The NLC's demands are a clear call to action for the government to take urgent steps to alleviate the suffering of workers and other Nigerians. The government has been urged to prioritize the needs of workers and other Nigerians in its economic policies.
The NLC's Independence Day message has highlighted the need for urgent action to address the economic challenges facing the country. The union's demands for a wage award, a cut in fuel prices, and the commencement of talks on a new national minimum wage are aimed at mitigating the effects of the high cost of living on workers and other Nigerians. The government has been urged to take concrete steps to address the suffering of the people.
Key points
- NLC urges FG to cut fuel prices and implement a fresh wage award
- The union attributes the worsening hardship to the rise in petrol prices following the removal of the subsidy in 2023
- The NLC's demands are aimed at mitigating the effects of the high cost of living on workers and other Nigerians
