Story Summary:
- Petrol pump price surged to N897 and N855 per litre from N617 on Tuesday.
- The Trade Union Congress (TUC) condemned the price hike, urging the government to reverse the decision immediately.
- TUC criticized the increase as being made without consulting key stakeholders and neglecting the welfare of Nigerians.
- The union warned that the rise in fuel and electricity costs would worsen living conditions and potentially lead to social unrest.
The pump price of petrol saw a sudden surge on Tuesday, jumping to N897 and N855 per litre from its previous rate of N617. The steep increase has triggered widespread reactions across the country.
In a swift response, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the Federal Government to immediately reverse the hike, urging policymakers to adopt strategies aimed at strengthening the naira and addressing the growing hardships faced by Nigerians.
According to the TUC, the decision to raise fuel prices was made “without proper consultation with key stakeholders,” describing it as a clear neglect of the welfare of Nigerians, particularly the working class who will suffer the most from the hike.
The union noted that the sudden rise in fuel and electricity costs would only worsen the already difficult living conditions, possibly sparking social unrest. “The increase in these essential commodities will further deepen the challenges faced by Nigerians, particularly at a time when the cost of living is already unbearable,” TUC stated.
“We call on the government to reverse these decisions immediately, put in place policies that will revitalize the naira, and take concrete actions to ease the suffering of Nigerians. Immediate steps must be taken to restore public confidence and prevent the further decline in the citizens’ living standards,” the union added.
This call comes shortly after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also demanded the reversal of the petrol price hike, intensifying the pressure on the government to reconsider its decision.
