NEWS
NLC Meets Governors On Fuel Subsidy Palliatives
Some state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress have begun negotiations with their respective state governments to mitigate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal, which was recently implemented by President Bola Tinubu.
This development comes weeks after the subsidy removal took effect. The national level of the organized labor has expressed its determination to ensure that agreements reached at the state level are strictly adhered to.
Recall that President Tinubu announced the end of the fuel subsidy era during his inaugural speech at Eagle Square in Abuja, emphasizing that the absence of provisions for fuel subsidy in the 2023 budget rendered further payments unjustifiable.
Organized labor has been actively involved in discussions with the Federal Government to secure palliative measures aimed at alleviating the impact of the fuel subsidy removal on workers.
Following the demands set by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), representatives from both the Federal Government and organized labor have engaged in meetings with a dedicated committee established to address these demands. Our correspondent’s inquiries on Monday indicated that the committee has a remaining timeframe of five weeks to finalize its report.
Further investigations by our correspondent unveiled that certain state chapters of the NLC are preparing to hold discussions with state governors concerning strategies to mitigate the impact of the subsidy removal.
Several state governments, including Kwara, Edo, Taraba, among others, have already made announcements regarding special interventions aimed at benefiting their citizens. However, no standardized interventions specifically targeting workers have been announced thus far.
In an interview with our correspondent, Pascal Iheme, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abia State, confirmed that the state chapter of the NLC is scheduled to meet with Governor Alex Otti on Wednesday.
He said “We are having a meeting with the state governor on Wednesday. The issue of subsidy will be discussed and also the implementation of the minimum wage. By Wednesday we will meet and you will get the updates.”
Our correspondent has gathered information that in Ekiti State, the local chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has written a letter to Governor Biodun Oyebanji regarding the issue at hand. The Chairman of the NLC in Ekiti State, Olatunde Kolapo, explained that a meeting was initially planned for last week but could not take place due to scheduling conflicts.
He said “It is also important to know that we will need the template from the national body so that it will help in our negotiations with the state government.”
According to Buba Wadumayi, the Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Taraba State, the state NLC is eagerly anticipating an engagement with the government.
“Presently, we haven’t made any engagement with the new governor. But before the former governor left office we had a series of engagements with him, most especially on the issue of minimum wage.
“We want to meet with the new governor too. He has given us an appointment for a courtesy call before now but due to bottlenecks and workloads, we have not been able to meet him.” He said
Terungwa Igbe, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Benue State, informed our correspondent that the state NLC is planning to hold a meeting with the state government. However, he mentioned that this meeting would take place after negotiations have occurred between the national secretariat of the NLC and the Federal Government.
The national organized labor has made a firm commitment to ensuring that state governments adhere to the negotiations reached between the Federal Government and organized labor.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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