The Trade Union Congress is pushing the government to give production subsidies to Dangote Refinery and modular refineries as a way to bring down petrol prices for ordinary Nigerians.
The union says the government should use excess revenue from oil sales to fund these subsidies, rather than waiting for the refineries to compete their way to lower prices. TUC argues that without help, fuel will stay expensive and continue to squeeze households and businesses.
This proposal comes as Nigerians have watched petrol prices climb sharply since the government removed the fuel subsidy in 2023. The Dangote Refinery, which started operations last year in Lagos, was supposed to ease the pressure by producing fuel locally. But prices have remained high, and many Nigerians blame the lack of government support for domestic refineries.
The TUC's position reflects a broader argument among labour unions and civil society groups that the government should use Nigeria's oil wealth more directly to help citizens. Rather than let market forces sort things out, the union wants targeted intervention to keep fuel affordable while refineries build scale and efficiency.
The proposal will likely face resistance from those who argue that subsidies distort markets and drain government resources. But it signals that pressure is mounting on the government to do more to manage the impact of high fuel prices on workers and low-income Nigerians. The government has not yet responded to the TUC's call.
