Nigeria’s leader increases wages to avert strike that could shut down the government
Published:Sunday | October 1, 2023 | 11:29 AM
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's leader increased the wages of some government workers in last-minute efforts to appease labour unions whose planned strike this week could shut down government offices in all sectors of Africa's largest economy.
Low-grade workers will in the next six months be paid an additional 25,000 naira a month, President Bola Tinubu said Sunday in a nationwide broadcast to mark Nigeria's 63rd independence anniversary.
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 labour unions did not immediately comment on Tinubu's announcement.
The unions representing Nigeria's government workers announced they will go on an indefinite strike starting Tuesday to protest the government's austerity measures.
In office since May 29, Tinubu's policies aimed at fixing Nigeria's ailing economy have more than doubled the cost of living for more than 210 million people who already were grappling with surging inflation.
It hit an 18-year high of 25.8% in August.
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