𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗦: 𝗡𝗟𝗖 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀, 𝗪𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

16𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 2026.

Nigeria’s foremost labour body, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has raised alarm over the worsening economic hardship facing workers across the country, warning that soaring fuel prices and rising inflation are pushing millions of families to the brink.

The labour union said the escalating cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) has turned transportation into a crushing burden for workers, while the relentless surge in food prices continues to erode already meagre wages.

According to the NLC, many workers now struggle to afford daily transportation to their workplaces, a situation the union warned could severely disrupt economic productivity.

“When workers cannot afford transportation to their workplaces, the economy stalls. When families cannot afford three meals a day, society sits on a keg of gunpowder,” the congress cautioned.

The union stressed that government must not remain passive in the face of deepening hardship, noting that the responsibility of the state is to take decisive action to protect citizens rather than attributing the crisis solely to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

The NLC referenced projections by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), which indicate that Nigeria could record an estimated ₦30 trillion oil windfall from the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Labour leaders insisted that such potential revenue must be channelled into policies that directly alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.

The NLC outlined a series of urgent measures it believes government must implement to cushion the hardship:

Immediate wage award and Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) for all workers to offset the rising cost of living.

Expansion and overhaul of the national cash transfer programme, with stronger transparency mechanisms to ensure funds reach the most vulnerable citizens.

Inflation-adjusted social assistance to reflect the current economic realities.

Immediate tax relief for workers, including suspension of what it described as regressive taxes on low-income earners.

The labour body argued that taxing minimum-wage earners under current economic conditions amounts to economic injustice.

“Taxing minimum-wage earners amounts to extortion,” the NLC stated.

The congress also demanded a clear and credible timeline for the full operationalisation of Nigeria’s public refineries, insisting that the government must account for the billions of naira previously spent on refinery turnaround maintenance.

The labour union warned that Nigerian workers are increasingly being pushed into poverty despite being the backbone of the nation’s productivity.

“Workers are not statistics — they are the engine of the nation. When the engine overheats, the entire vehicle crashes,” the statement read.

The NLC further insisted that the projected ₦30 trillion oil windfall must not vanish like previous revenues but should instead be invested in programmes that directly ease the burden on citizens.

Calling for immediate engagement with labour and the public, the congress urged the government to initiate genuine social dialogue to address the worsening economic situation.

“Using the Middle East crisis as justification for policies that deepen poverty is unacceptable,” the NLC said.

“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.”