The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to provide a cost-of-living allowance and tax relief for workers, to help mitigate the impact of rising petrol prices caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
In a statement titled “Save Nigerians From This Shock: An Urgent Relief Has Become Necessary,” signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the labour union said the fuel price surge has intensified economic hardship for Nigerian workers and households.
The NLC’s demands include:
Immediate wage award and cost-of-living allowance (COLA) for all workers.
Expansion and overhaul of the Cash Transfer programme to ensure transparency and adequate inflation-adjusted support for vulnerable citizens.
Immediate tax relief for workers, including suspension of regressive taxes on low-income earners and taxing the informal sector fairly.
The union criticized the government for leaving Nigerians exposed to volatile global oil markets, worsened by the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict. It highlighted that domestic refineries have failed to shield citizens from price shocks, despite billions spent on turnaround maintenance.
“The military escalation abroad has sent shock waves through global oil markets. Petrol prices in Nigeria have surged to between N1,170 and N1,300 per litre. Meanwhile, the working class bears the brunt of this global crisis,” the statement said.
Impact on Nigeria’s Petroleum Sector.
The NLC warned that Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector is fragile, with local refining unable to stabilize prices.
The Dangote Refinery’s pricing, aligned with global crude rates, has passed costs directly to consumers, undermining claims that domestic production guarantees stability.
The union urged the government to fully rehabilitate the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries and invest the expected N30 trillion windfall from the Middle East crisis into social programmes for Nigerians.
Following the crisis, Dangote Refinery adjusted petrol prices multiple times in March 2026:
March 2: N774 → N874 per litre
Four days later: N995 per litre
Subsequent rise: N1,175 per litre
Brief reduction due to falling crude prices: N1,075 per litre
Price reinstated to N1,175 per litre amid renewed global crude surge
Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), said the fluctuation will continue as long as the Middle East conflict persists.
He warned that petrol could reach N2,000 per litre if the war continues.
Gillis-Harry also urged the government to establish a domestic energy bank to provide funding for energy-related businesses, citing lack of support from commercial banks.
