Nigeria unions call off strike over living costs

Nigeria’s labour unions have agreed to call off a planned strike in protest over rising living costs, after the government offered a package of measures to cushion the impact of its economic reforms.

Since he came to office in May, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ended a fuel subsidy and liberalised the naira currency in reforms officials say are painful but necessary to help revive Africa’s largest economy.

The measures have seen fuel costs triple and inflation is now at 25 percent, prompting the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to call for an indefinite strike from Tuesday.

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But after several rounds of talks, unions and the government agreed late Monday to a last-minute accord to suspend the labour action.

“The NLC and TUC accept to suspend for 30 days the planned indefinite nationwide strike,” the unions and government said in a joint statement.

On Sunday, Tinubu had appealed to Nigerians to be patient, as his reforms are designed to create long-term benefits. Investors generally applauded his decisions.

As part of its package, the government offered a 35,000 naira ($45) a month pay increase for six months for federal employees, a temporary suspension of VAT on diesel and social security cash transfers to the poorest Nigerians.

The agreement also encourages similar benefits to be awarded to state and local government employees and private sector workers.

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“We believe the government will act in utmost good faith,” TUC leader Festus Osifo told reporters.

“We believe when it is cascaded down it will alleviate the pains that Nigerians are feeling.”

The government proposals also included the introduction of gas-powered buses for public transport as a way to bring down transport costs, one of the main complaints for Nigerians.

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress represent labour movements for industries from aviation workers and nurses to teachers and bankers.

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Tinubu a former Lagos governor elected in February in a tightly fought ballot has vowed to bring in more investment and revive the economy. He has named a new central bank chief who analysts expect will take a more orthodox approach.

The fuel subsidy had been in place for decades and kept petrol prices artificially low in what was seen by many Nigerians as one of their benefits from the government.

But the measure cost the state billions annually because although Nigeria is a major petroleum producer, it imports most of its fuel needs due to its lack of refineries.

The NLC and TUC went on strike in August, with businesses, government offices and markets closed for a day in the capital Abuja, but the strike was met with a mixed response from businesses in the economic capital Lagos.