RismadarVoice Reporters
October 18, 2026
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), human rights lawyer Femi Falana and pro-democracy activists have called on Nigerians to unite against rising petrol prices and worsening economic hardship.
The call was made at a symposium in Lagos organised in memory of labour activist Abiodun Aremu.
NLC President Joe Ajaero, represented by Acting General Secretary Benson Upah, criticised the impact of petrol subsidy removal on workers, citing rising transport fares, food prices and electricity tariffs.
Ajaero disclosed that the union had issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government on October 9, demanding an immediate reduction in petrol prices.
He described the ₦70,000 national minimum wage as inadequate, arguing that petrol prices exceeding ₦1,400 per litre had severely weakened workers’ purchasing power.
Falana also questioned the government’s fuel-pricing policies, urging authorities to consider measures that would protect citizens from economic hardship.
Similarly, Joint Action Front representative Rashidat Adesina noted that a worker earning ₦70,000 monthly could purchase only 50 litres of petrol at ₦1,400 per litre.
The activists demanded lower fuel prices, improved wages, economic reforms and stronger domestic refining capacity to ease the financial burden on Nigerians.
