Nigeria’s leader has increased the wages of some government workers in last-minute efforts to appease labor unions whose planned strike this week could shut down government offices in all sectors of Africa’s largest economy.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria, addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at U.N. headquarters. – Nigeria’s leader increased the wages of some government workers in last-minute efforts to appease labor unions whosecould shut down government offices in all sectors of Africa’s largest economy.
The increase expected to take effect this month takes the minimum wage to 55,000 naira , still far below the 200,000 naira the unions had requested. The labor unions did not immediately comment on Tinubu’s announcement. After he ended the yearslong expensive subsidies for gas on his first day in office, the price of petrol more than doubled, resulting in a similar hike in the price of other commodities. The government’s devaluation of the currency further increased prices, including food.resulted in last week's announcement of the indefinite strike. On Sunday, Tinubu said the new wage increase will enhance the workers’ pay “without causing undue inflation.
“I wish today’s difficulties did not exist. But we must endure if we are to reach the good side of our future,” he said.