Source: AFP
Nigeria’s labor unions shut down the national electricity grid and grounded flights on Monday as they began an indefinite strike that closed schools and public offices after failing to reach a new minimum wage deal with the government.
Africa’s most populous country is facing its worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, with double-digit inflation leaving many Nigerians struggling to afford food.
The two main unions, the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Confederation (TUC), said they had urged workers to strike after the government refused to increase the minimum wage offer beyond 60,000 naira ($40) in month.
The current minimum monthly salary is 30,000 naira. The NLC said it had called for the minimum wage to be increased to 494,000 naira.
Government buildings, gas stations and courts in the capital Abuja were closed, according to AFP reporters, while doors at the city’s airport were closed and long lines formed outside.
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Source: AFP
“Today we did nothing in the office, it was almost empty. Everything is at a standstill, there is no light in my house and very few gas stations sell fuel,” said Charles, a 53-year-old government administrator. laborer in Abuja.
Eight members of Nigeria’s Super Eagles soccer team, including winger Ademola Lookman, have been stranded by an airline holiday and unable to train for World Cup qualifiers, a team spokesman said.
In the financial capital Lagos, the strike was also in effect, with bands of students returning home from empty schools and workers picketing outside a courthouse where the gates were locked.
“Workers in Nigeria stay at home. Yes! On living wages. No! On starvation wages!” the unions said in a joint statement.
An NLC spokesman confirmed they will meet with government negotiators on Tuesday for emergency talks.
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Unions are also protesting the increase in electricity tariffs and there were widespread power outages after the Nigerian Transport Corporation announced that workers had shut down the national grid overnight.
Source: AFP
United Nigeria Airline told customers that airports across the country were closed due to the strike. In a statement to X, Nigerian carrier Air Peace also warned of “disruptions or possible cancellations” across its network.
Since taking office a year ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ended fuel subsidy and exchange controls, causing petrol prices to triple and the cost of living to rise as the naira weakened against the dollar.
Tinubu called for patience to allow the reforms to work, saying they would help attract foreign investment, but the measures have hit Nigerians hard.
“Workers find it very stressful and demoralizing,” said veteran civil society activist Chi. “It’s really hard and people can’t buy anything.”
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“There is no work now”
A source close to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said domestic flights have been canceled and the airport will be closed to all flights on Tuesday.
AFP contacted FAAN for confirmation.
The airport’s workers’ unions said in a joint statement that they were withdrawing all services from Tuesday to allow international flights to land before full action.
Source: AFP
“All aviation workers should recognize the seriousness of this struggle and fully comply. All our union branch officers will ensure compliance at all airports.”
Security has been beefed up with an increased presence of soldiers on the streets of Abuja.
Outside the Federal Secretariat, which houses several ministries, picketing union members urged workers to go home.
“Stay home and stay safe. We don’t want to embarrass you. No work now,” they shouted.
In the northern city of Kano, government offices and public schools were closed. Children in a neighborhood were shouting: “No school, it’s a free day!”
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The unions had said in a statement on Friday: “Nigerian workers, who are the backbone of our nation’s economy, deserve fair and decent wages that reflect the current economic reality.”
Presidential spokesman Azuri Ngelale agreed the minimum wage was “unsustainably low” but said a “realistic assessment” was needed.
Thousands of Nigerians demonstrated against the rising cost of living in February, although previous union strikes had limited impact and participation.
Source: AFP