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Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) finally gives solution to high fuel price as Dangote announces new cost

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NLC urged the FG to prioritize the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s purchase of crude oil in naira NLC urged the FG to prioritize the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s purchase of crude oil in naira

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has directly urged the Federal Government to prioritise the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s purchase of crude oil in naira.

The NLC’s Lagos State chapter chairman, Comrade Funmi Sessi, made the appeal on Tuesday during a visit to the refinery and Dangote Fertilizer Limited.

The union contended that requiring the business to import crude or make local purchases in dollars undermines the promise of cheaper fuel costs for average Nigerians.

“This country has crude oil in abundance. So why is Dangote still being made to import crude or pay for it in hard currency?” the NLC queried.

“If the government is truly committed to reducing fuel prices and supporting local refining, it must sell crude oil to Dangote in naira.”

The union emphasised that obtaining petroleum locally and paying for it with local currency would drastically reduce operating expenses, leading to a more sustainable drop in fuel prices.

“With a daily capacity of 650,000 barrels, this refinery can serve Nigeria and even the West African sub-region. We have also seen large ships transporting fertilizers to other countries. The government must maximize this potential.”

The refinery was praised by the NLC as a transformative national asset and a critical step in closing the fuel supply deficit in Nigeria, creating jobs, and restoring public trust in the nation’s economic potential.

Sessi noted that these projects are delivering real benefits to Nigerians and commended the Dangote Group’s investments for their scale and strategic importance.

“Today, we have seen the massive Dangote Refinery project, as well as the fertilizer plant. We have also observed some of Dangote’s other investments in this area. It is truly enormous and highly impressive,” said the NLC chairperson.

“I believe what we have seen is a clear effort to bridge the gap in the availability of essential products in the country and to create job opportunities for Nigerians and others, as well as industrializing the country.”

The union acknowledged that Nigerians faced an unprecedented spike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or gasoline, after the federal government removed its subsidies, but noted that the Dangote Refinery’s entry into the market helped stabilise prices.

“It wasn’t until Dangote entered the picture that we started seeing some relief. His intervention significantly reduced the escalated prices of PMS and other refined products. That’s a clear demonstration of private sector leadership,” she stated.

Aliko Dangote was praised by the NLC for building a fully operational, top-tier refinery that can satisfy regional and domestic demand for refined petroleum products.

“When government-owned refineries failed, one man stepped up. Aliko Dangote didn’t just make promises; he fulfilled them. He has proven that Nigeria can not only refine its own products but also meet international quality standards,” she added.

The refinery’s production of Euro 5-compliant fuel, which has a far lower sulfur content and complies with international environmental regulations, was also praised by the union, as it enhances Nigeria’s reputation in the global petroleum market.

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National Pension Commission (PenCom) changes price disclosure rule

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National Pension Commission (PenCom) has directed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to discontinue the publication of daily unit prices for Retirement Savings Account (RSA) and Retiree Funds on their websites, replacing the requirement with a six-month disclosure of returns based on a three-year rolling average.

The directive was contained in a circular issued by the commission.

Under the new guideline, PFAs must stop implementing Section 2.0 (iv) of the Commission’s March 23, 2013 circular, which required them to display daily unit prices for the last seven days.

Instead, they are to publish on their websites the last six months’ rate of return — calculated as a 36-month compounded rolling average in line with the Circular for the Calculation and Reporting of Rate of Returns by Licensed Pension Fund Operators (LPFOs).

According to the commission, the rate of return must be clearly displayed on the homepage of each PFA’s website.

For instance, the six-month disclosure covering April to September 2025 would reflect the 36-month compounded returns ending in each of those months.

This has however raised transparency concerns in the pension industry.

The 2013 circular on Minimum Information to be displayed on PFA Websites formed part of PenCom’s transparency framework for the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The latest addendum modifies that requirement but does not remove PFAs’ obligation to disclose performance information.

Industry watchers say the development may reignite debate over the balance between long-term investment reporting and real-time transparency in Nigeria’s pension industry.

All enquiries on the addendum, the Commission said, should be directed to its Surveillance Department.

An industry analyst who does not want her name mentioned said the move could reduce contributors’ access to real-time performance data.

She said: “Daily unit prices allowed RSA holders to independently track short-term movements and detect fluctuations in fund valuation.

“With only a three-year rolling average now required, contributors will no longer see recent performance in isolation”, she noted.

The analyst added that while pension funds are long-term vehicles, removing daily disclosure raises concerns about information asymmetry.

“PFAs will still compute daily valuations internally. The issue is whether contributors should be denied access to data that already exists,” the analyst said.

However, another pension expert defended the directive, noting that pensions are structured for long-term accumulation and should be assessed over extended periods.

“A 36-month rolling average smooth’s out short-term volatility and provides a more accurate reflection of sustained performance,” the expert said, warning that excessive focus on daily fluctuations could encourage reactionary fund switching.

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Dollar rises in black market on Monday, traders quote new exchange rate

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Dollar edges higher against the naira in black market trading Dollar edges higher against the naira in black market trading

The United States dollar at the parallel market increased in value on Monday, Febuary 23 with traders quote at N1,375/$ as the new selling exchange rate.

The new rate is a slight depreciation for the naira when compared to N1,343 a dollar market closed on Friday, February 20, 2026.

Abdulahhi, a forex dealer, told Legit.ng that the new exchange rate follows renew demand in the market.

“I am currently selling dollars at N1,375/$1 and buying at N1,355/$1. The pound is trading at N1,845 to sell and N1,805 to buy, while the euro is also moving steadily in the market.

“It seems this week the dollar will return to over N1,400. I have been getting a lot of request.”

The fall of the naira comes as BDC operators continue to face difficulties in accessing dollars from commercial banks.

BDCs can get dollar

The apex bank had previously issued a circular allowing licensed BDCs to access foreign exchange through authorised dealers at the prevailing market rate.

Under the directive, each BDC is permitted to purchase up to $150,000 weekly, subject to Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements and due diligence checks, Punch reports.

Leadership reported that despite a policy announcement, some operators disclosed that no transactions have been completed under the new arrangement.

A BDC operator, who requested anonymity, said the directive remains largely unimplemented. According to him, the circular provides that disbursements will be made through settlement accounts, a provision that has raised operational concerns.

He questioned the feasibility of seamless, real-time transfers between domiciliary accounts across different banks, noting that such infrastructure may not yet be fully in place.

The operator added that while commercial banks appear supportive of the policy, many are still developing internal processes to align with the CBN’s directive.

He explained that BDCs are required to submit bid orders through their banks, which would then access the market on their behalf.

Naira in the official market

Meanwhile, in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the naira closed against the US dollar on Friday, February 20 at N1,346.32/$1 from N1,341.35/$1 a day earlier.

At the GTBank FX desk, the naira weakened by N7 against the dollar to quote N1,356/$1.

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