The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has sharply criticised the Federal Government following the latest increase in the pump price of petrol.
Ajaero condemned the repeated price hikes, which he claims lack sufficient mitigatory measures to cushion the impact on Nigerians.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ajaero remarked, “It looks like the only thing this government is known for is the increase in the pump price of petrol without commensurate capacity of Nigerians or mitigatory measures.”
Ajaero also expressed concern over the role of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in setting fuel prices, describing it as an “aberration.”
He questioned the logic behind allowing a private company to fix prices, saying, “We find it an aberration that a private company (NNPCL) is the one fixing prices and projecting itself as a hegemonic monopoly.”
The NLC President urged the government to devise a comprehensive plan for economic growth, rather than relying on short-term fixes. “We urge the government to immediately reverse this rate hike as previous increases did not produce any good results. People only got poorer,” he stated.
Ajaero warned that the fuel price increase would exacerbate poverty, reduce production capacities, and lead to more job losses across the country.
He further called on the government to provide a clear direction for the nation’s economic future, saying, “The government should be bold enough to tell Nigerians in advance the destination it wants to take the country.”
