According to a report by Vanguard News on October 8, 2026, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to take steps to reduce the price of petrol to the level it was when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.
The labour body said the reduction was necessary to ease the pressure of rising energy costs on workers and other Nigerians.
The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the NLC’s National Executive Council and Central Working Committee. The document was signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero.
The NLC said the Federal Government should begin implementing the demands from Friday, October 9, 2026, warning that failure to act could lead to further measures by the union.
Apart from the petrol price reduction, Labour demanded that negotiations for a new national minimum wage should begin before the end of October.
The union argued that the current minimum wage had lost much of its purchasing power because of the continued decline in the value of the naira and the rising cost of living.
According to the NLC, many Nigerian workers are struggling to meet basic needs, including food, housing, healthcare, transportation, and education.
Labour also called for the implementation of the terms of settlement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals on February 5, 2026.
It further demanded the implementation of outstanding requests from the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.
On petrol prices, the NLC said the high cost of the product had contributed to increased transportation fares and the rising prices of food and other essential goods.
The union also asked the Federal Government to provide tax relief and wage awards for workers as measures to reduce the impact of the rising cost of living.
The NLC maintained that workers should not continue to bear the effects of economic difficulties without corresponding measures to provide relief.
It called on its affiliates and allies to remain prepared to respond to policies it considers harmful to workers and the wider population.
The union said it would take further action if the Federal Government failed to meet its demands within the two-week period.
SOURCE: PeterCreat