Nigeria Paralyzed by Nationwide Strike as Unions Demand Wage Hike Amid Cost of Living Crisis

Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, experienced a nationwide shutdown on Monday as significant labour unions initiated a strike to demand salary increases amid the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades.

The strike, prompted by surging inflation and economic reforms, led to power outages and the closure of major airports.

President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, including terminating fuel subsidies, have spiked inflation to a 28-year high.

Workers from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) disrupted the national electricity grid, preventing the Transmission Company of Nigeria from restoring power.

Government offices, including airports in Abuja and Lagos, were also closed as workers protested for a wage increase.

The unions are demanding a raise in the minimum monthly wage from 30,000 naira ($20) to 500,000 naira ($336), while the government has offered 60,000 naira ($40).

According to Information Minister Mohammed Idris, this proposed increase could add 9.5 trillion naira ($6.3 billion) to the government’s wage bill, potentially destabilizing the economy.

Since President Tinubu ended the costly fuel subsidies in May, gas prices have more than doubled, significantly raising public transport and commodity costs.

Additionally, the devaluation of the naira to attract foreign investment has further exacerbated price hikes in this import-dependent nation of over 210 million people.