~Ezekiel Waheo, Abuja –
A high-level delegation from the Nigerian government held talks with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday to address rising fuel prices and their impact on citizens.
The meeting, convened by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, brought together top government officials, including National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Labour Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun.
“The state of the nation is critical, especially with the recent increase in petrol prices. We are here to find a way forward,” Akume said, underscoring the urgency of the discussion.
Other key participants included Information Minister Mohammed Idris, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Heineken Lokpobiri, and representatives from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited. This dialogue comes on the heels of a fuel price adjustment by NNPCL, which saw petrol rise from N897 to N1,030 per litre in Abuja and from N855 to N998 in Lagos.
“These prices are not sustainable for the average Nigerian. We are calling on the government to act swiftly,” said an NLC representative during the meeting.
Negotiations between the parties are expected to continue as the country grapples with the consequences of the price hike.
