By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued an urgent call to the Federal Government for a cost-of-living allowance (COLA), wage award, tax relief, and accelerated revival of Nigeria’s public refineries to cushion the devastating impact of the recent petrol price surge triggered by the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Save Nigerians From This Shock: An Urgent Relief Has Become Necessary”, signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero on Sunday, March 15, 2026, the labour union described the current hardship as a “direct assault on the Nigerian people” and accused the government of leaving citizens “at the mercy of volatile global oil prices.”
Key demand include Immediate wage award and cost-of-living allowance for all workers to offset the rising cost of living, Expansion and overhaul of the Cash Transfer programme in ensuring transparency, targeting the most vulnerable, and adjusting transfers to reflect inflation.
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Immediate tax relief for workers, including suspension of regressive taxes on low-income earners and introduction of taxes on the informal sector, Full rehabilitation and operation of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries to reduce dependence on imported refined products and shield Nigerians from global shocks and Transparent utilisation of the projected ₦30 trillion oil windfall from the Middle East crisis warning that previous windfalls “disappeared” and must not be repeated.
Ajaero emphasised that the Dangote Refinery adjusting prices in line with global volatility has undermined the narrative that domestic production guarantees stability, and that Nigeria remains “hostage to international conflicts and market speculation” without functional public refineries.
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He added: “Nigerian workers are being pauperized and subjected to immense suffering. Workers are not statistics they are the engine of the nation. When the engine overheats, the entire vehicle crashes.”
The statement comes as Brent crude climbed to $106.50 per barrel on Monday, March 16, 2026 a roughly 3% increase amid fears of prolonged disruption to Gulf oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Petrol prices in Nigeria have soared to between ₦1,170 and ₦1,300 per litre, deepening transportation costs, food inflation, and overall hardship.
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The NLC accused the government of allowing the downstream sector to remain fragile despite billions spent on turnaround maintenance of public refineries, describing taxation of minimum-wage earners as “extortion.”
The union demanded “sincere social dialogue” with workers and citizens, rejecting the use of the Middle East crisis as justification for policies that deepen poverty.
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“The primary duty of the government is to ensure the welfare and security of its citizens. We demand action. We demand justice. We demand survival.”
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. (Beedee)
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