The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday threw its weight behind the increase in fuel price but said the government must immediately role out palliatives to cushion the effect on Nigerians.

The Senate’s position was contained in a statement issued at the end of a closed door meeting headed by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who read the statement to journalists.

It also urged the government to dialogue with the Nigerian Labour Congress to find a way of amicably solving the impasse between both parties.

“The Senate in a closed session deliberated on the increase in the pump price of PMS by the Federal Government and the threats by the organised Labour to embark on a nationwide strike over the matter and resolved as follows:

“That we sympathise with ordinary people of Nigeria on the hardships they are going through, the senate will engage the federal government to find sustainable ways of improving the welfare of the people of Nigeria,” the statement read.

“That we call on government to continue to engage the organised labour and other stakeholders to resolve issues in other not ground the system and impose more hardships on our people. That government should immediately start implementing palliatives or palliative measures contained in the 2016 appropriation act passed by the National Assembly.”