Nigeria's Trade Unions Suspend General Strike After Government Promises Wage Increase

ABUJA, Nigeria-Nigeria's trade unions have suspended a general strike by workers that brought the nation's economic activity to a standstill this week. The decision follows the government's commitment to raise the national minimum wage to at least 60,000 naira ($40, £32) a month, which is double the current wage but falls short of the unions' demand for $330.

The strike, which began on Monday, led to the shutdown of the country's power grid, leaving millions without electricity. Government and union representatives will now meet daily for a week to negotiate further, hoping to reach a permanent resolution.

A civil servant in the northern city of Kano expressed disappointment with the offer, stating a need for at least 100,000 naira ($67) a month. "Even 100,000 naira won’t be enough as prices in the market have gone up, but it will be better than what we have now," said Shittu Lawal, who works in the information ministry in Kano. "I spend 500 naira to get to work every day, which is not easy. We will return to work now and continue to push for more."

The strike plunged the country into darkness early on Monday, shortly after 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT), when union members prevented operators at the country's power control rooms from working and closed electricity substations. Many flights were canceled at the busiest airports in Lagos and Abuja, leaving passengers stranded. Schools, offices, and hospitals across the country were also closed.

This strike is the fourth since President Bola Tinubu came to power a year ago. His government removed a subsidy that kept fuel prices low and ended the policy of pegging the value of the naira to the US dollar. The removal of the fuel subsidy and the collapse in the value of the naira have led to the worst economic crisis in a generation.

Unions have warned they will not hesitate to strike again in seven days if the negotiations do not yield fruitful results.