NLC says increase in fuel price will affect transport costs, food prices

The Nigerian Labour Congress has warned that the planned removal of fuel subsidy and subsequent increase in fuel price will affect every facet of life, including transportation, cost of food items, clothing, housing and others.

This was made known by Mr Ikechukwu Nwafor, NLC chairman in Ebonyi, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abakaliki.

This comes after the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan had claimed that the removal of fuel subsidy was not a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nwafor stated that It is high time Nigeria fixes its own refineries, adding that Nigeria can end the importation of fuel in the country if it can have the refineries working.

“We should understand that this is not the right time to increase the pump price when the cost of living is already difficult. Prices of food commodities are already beyond the capacity of civil servants.

“How will the civil servants, who are the engine of the economy, cope?

“What we are telling the federal government is to consider the consequences of the increase on the masses and the current economy,” Nwafor said.

He warned that the increase is going to affect every facet of life, including transportation, high cost of food items, clothing, housing, among others.

He also stated that the NLC Chapter in Ebonyi State plans to embark on a protest on January 27th, urging all Nigerians and Ebonyi state to rise against the removal of oil subsidy and hike on fuel price.

“Of course, the increase is going to affect all citizens and we are saying no to it,” he said