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Nigerian Labour Movement calls off general strike
Abuja, July 08: Nigeria`s main Labour Movement today accepted a government offer to reduce fuel prices and halted a nationwide general strike as it entered its ninth day, the body`s president said.
Abuja, July 08: Nigeria's main Labour Movement today accepted a government offer to reduce fuel prices and halted a nationwide general strike as it entered its ninth day, the body's president said.
Strike leader Adams Oshiomhole, president of the
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), told reporters that the 29
trade unions affiliated with his umbrella body had agreed to
go back to work.
"Given the sacrifices and the privations which Nigerians have had to make or contend with over the past eight days, the NLC has a compelling duty to avail the people some relief by suspending the strike action," he said. The Labour leader said the unions had voted to accept a government offer to reduce the recently increased cap on the pump price of petrol from 40 Naira per litre to 34 Naira (26 US cents/22 Euro cents).
"Having also compelled the federal government to back down and to reduce the price of petrol from 40 Naira to 34 per litre, the nationwide strike action and mass protest is suspended for the above-mentioned reasons," he said. Labour's decision will reassure nervous oil markets, who have been fearful that further industrial action could disrupt exports from the world's fifth largest exporter of crude oil and force up prices.
It also removes a cloud hanging over Nigeria's preparations to play host to US President George W Bush, who is due to arrive in Africa today and will come to Abuja on Friday and meet with President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Bureau Report
"Given the sacrifices and the privations which Nigerians have had to make or contend with over the past eight days, the NLC has a compelling duty to avail the people some relief by suspending the strike action," he said. The Labour leader said the unions had voted to accept a government offer to reduce the recently increased cap on the pump price of petrol from 40 Naira per litre to 34 Naira (26 US cents/22 Euro cents).
"Having also compelled the federal government to back down and to reduce the price of petrol from 40 Naira to 34 per litre, the nationwide strike action and mass protest is suspended for the above-mentioned reasons," he said. Labour's decision will reassure nervous oil markets, who have been fearful that further industrial action could disrupt exports from the world's fifth largest exporter of crude oil and force up prices.
It also removes a cloud hanging over Nigeria's preparations to play host to US President George W Bush, who is due to arrive in Africa today and will come to Abuja on Friday and meet with President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Bureau Report