The indefinite strike that began this Monday in Nigeria, called by trade unions after negotiations with the government on a new minimum wage failed, has closed schools, canceled flights and caused power outages.
The main trade unions, the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have called on workers not to go to work after the government refused to raise the minimum wage to more than 60,000 naira (about 41 euros) per month. Local media reported this.
“Nigerian workers are staying home. Yes – a decent salary. No – pennies,” the unions said in a joint statement.
Since coming to power a year ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ended fuel subsidies and foreign exchange controls, which led to gasoline prices tripling and the cost of living rising as the naira fell against the dollar.
Tinubu called for patience for his reforms to bear fruit, saying they would help attract foreign investment.
In the capital Abuja, government offices, service stations and courts were closed on Monday morning and long queues formed outside the closed gates of the city’s airport, AFP reported.
Domestic flights have been canceled and the airport will be closed again on Tuesday, a source close to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said.
Unions are also protesting against rising electricity prices.
The union representing the Nigerian Electricity Transmission Company said it had shut down the national grid on Sunday night and today, leading to blackouts across the country.
In Abuja, the presence of soldiers and security personnel increased on the streets, while in Lagos the labor court was closed and children went home after learning that their schools were closed.
“Nigerian workers, who are the backbone of our country’s economy, deserve fair and decent wages that reflect current economic realities,” the unions said in a statement on Friday.
Last February, thousands of Nigerians mobilized against rising costs of living in response to a call from trade unions.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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