The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday demanded a cost-of-living allowance, a wage award for workers and tax relief to cushion the effects of the recent increase in the price of fuel occasioned by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
The NLC, in a statement titled ‘Save Nigerians From This Shock: An Urgent Relief Has Become Necessary,’ signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, also called for immediate steps to revive Nigeria’s refineries.
It said the petrol price hike had worsened the economic hardship facing Nigerian workers and citizens.
It said the federal government cannot foreclose any action that would offer relief to the people.
According to the NLC, it is the duty of the state to act decisively to prevent the suffering of its citizens, “rather than helplessly attributing the crisis solely to the Middle East conflict.”
The NLC’s demands came two days after the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO) sought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention of import tariffs on newsprint and broadcast equipment.