The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has demanded a detailed financial plan from former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and other politicians proposing ways to reduce fuel prices through crude oil supply to local refineries.
TUC President Festus Osifo said politicians must explain how their proposals would affect government revenue and the funding of public services.
Osifo spoke during an interview on a national television programme. He questioned whether supplying crude oil to refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, at prices close to production costs would be sustainable.
He said the government must consider the impact on foreign exchange earnings and revenue paid into the Federation Account.
According to Osifo, lower crude oil prices could reduce the funds available for workers’ salaries, infrastructure, healthcare, security and other public services.
He recalled that when the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) funded fuel subsidy payments, remittances to the Federation Account declined.
He said the situation left several state governments struggling to pay workers’ salaries.
The TUC president urged politicians to support their proposals with clear revenue projections and practical funding plans.
He said the labour movement would welcome proposals to increase workers’ salaries. However, he insisted that politicians promising a minimum wage of ₦500,000 or ₦1 million must explain how they would finance the payments.
Osifo’s comments place the funding of fuel price reductions and proposed wage increases at the centre of the debate over economic policy.
The TUC has called for politicians to demonstrate how their plans would work without undermining government revenue or the funding of essential services.
