Nigerian unions strike over minimum wage causes major disruptions

There have been major disruptions across Nigeria following a strike by labour unions to demand new and improved minimum wage.

Warning over the indefinite strike came last week as the workers express displeasure over the government’s failure to agree a new minimum wage.

Since President Bola Tinubu took office last year, this is the fourth strike to be embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), two of the country’s biggest unions.

Electricity and aviation unions have said in a statement that they had directed their workers on Monday to withdraw their services in compliance with the indefinite strike.

This has led to a shut down of the national power grid and disruption to airline operations across the country.

According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), union members drove away operators at the country’s power control rooms and shut down at least six substations.

The unions have said the strike would last until a new minimum wage was in place.

They want the current minimum monthly wage of 30,000 naira ($20) to be increased to nearly 500,000 naira ($336). The government offers 60,000 naira ($40).