Nigerian unions suspend strike after wage offer

Nigeria’s unions have suspended a general workers’ strike that brought economic activity to a halt this week.

The move comes after the government promised to increase the national minimum wage to at least 60,000 naira ($40, £32) a month.

This amount is less than the $330 demanded by the unions, but represents double the current monthly salary.

The strike began on Monday and led to the shutdown of the country’s electricity grid, leaving millions without electricity.

Government and union representatives say they will now meet every day for a week to continue negotiations.

A civil servant in the northern city of Kano told the BBC he was disappointed by the offer and wanted at least 100,000 naira ($67) a month.

“Even 100,000 naira will not be enough because prices in the market have increased, but it will be better than what we have now,” said Shittu Lawal, who works at the Ministry of Information in Kano.

“I spend N500 every day to get to work, which is not easy. We will go back to work now and continue to lobby for more,” he added.

On Monday morning, the country was plunged into darkness shortly after 2:00 a.m. local time (01:00 GMT) when union members prevented operators in the country’s electrical control rooms from working and shut down electrical substations.

Many flights were also canceled in Lagos, the country’s busiest airport, as well as the capital, Abuja, leaving passengers stranded.

Schools, offices and hospitals across the country have also been closed.

This strike is the fourth since President Bola Tinubu came to power a year ago.

Nigerian unions suspend strike after wage offer

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