The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene as petrol prices rise to about ₦1,430 per litre in major cities.

In a statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, the NLC warned that the latest increase would deepen the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

The labour centre said rising petrol prices would push up transportation costs and trigger further increases in food prices, rent, school fees and other essential goods and services.

The statement, titled “Save the Situation Now,” attributed the latest surge partly to the resurgence of conflict in the Gulf, but argued that Nigeria, as an oil-producing country, should have measures to protect citizens from global oil market shocks.

The NLC called for reasonable wage awards for workers, the sale of sufficient crude oil to local refineries in naira and an expansion of national petroleum storage capacity.

It also urged the government not to rule out subsidies or other forms of intervention in emergency situations, saying such measures could help protect households and businesses from the impact of rising fuel prices.

Ajaero said the Federal Government had benefited from higher international crude prices, with oil reportedly trading about $35 to $40 above the benchmark used in the national budget.

The union argued that the additional revenue could be used to create fiscal space for measures aimed at easing the rising cost of living.

The NLC also criticised the reported importation of crude oil by some local refineries, describing it as contrary to the goal of developing Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity.

The union called for swift government action, warning that workers and ordinary Nigerians should not be left to bear the full impact of rising fuel prices under the deregulated petroleum market.