The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is preparing to hold a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in response to the recent hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol.
According to NewdayReporters on Wednesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has increased the fuel price from N897 to N1,030 per litre in Abuja; from N855 to N998 in Lagos; N1,070 in the North-East; N1,025 in other South-West states; N1,045 in the South-East; and N1,075 in the South-South.
This price adjustment has sparked widespread criticism across the country, with many Nigerians calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and reverse the hike. In light of these developments, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, spoke with Arise Television on Friday, confirming that the Congress would convene to address the issue by the following week at the latest.
Ajaero clarified that the NLC operates with a defined process and structure, stating that the president of the union does not have the authority to unilaterally declare a strike. He emphasized the importance of following established procedures, which include convening meetings with relevant bodies such as the Central Working Committee (CWC) or the NEC to deliberate on matters of this magnitude.
He explained, “Every organization has its modus operandi. At no time does the NLC President have the right or powers to say there will be a strike tomorrow. We have our own internal and administrative procedures for calling meetings, and once we do, we will decide on the next course of action.”
Ajaero assured that by next week, the leadership would convene a meeting to discuss the fuel price hike and determine the way forward. He stressed that decisions must be made collectively by the NLC’s executive bodies to reflect the views of its members, rather than relying solely on the personal opinion of its leaders.
