Nigerian unions suspend strike after wage offer

Nigeria’s unions suspended a general workers strike that paralyzed economic activity this week.

The decision comes after the government promised to increase the national minimum wage to at least 60,000 naira ($40, £32) per month.

This amount is below the $330 that unions have been demanding, but it is double the current monthly salary.

The strike began on Monday and led to the closure of the country’s power grid, leaving millions of people without electricity.

Government and union representatives say they will now meet every day for a week for further negotiations.

A civil servant in the northern city of Kano told the BBC he was disappointed with the offer and wanted at least 100,000 naira ($67) a month.

“Even 100,000 naira will not be enough as prices in the market have gone up, but it will be better than what we have now,” said Shittu Lawal, who works at the information ministry in Kano.

“I spend 500 naira to get to work every day which is not easy, let’s go back to work now and continue to push for more,” he added.

On Monday morning, the country was plunged into darkness shortly after 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT) when trade unionists blocked operators in the country’s power control rooms from working and closed electrical substations.

Many flights were also canceled at the country’s busiest airport in Lagos and the capital Abuja, with passengers stranded.

Schools, offices and hospitals across the country were also closed.

This strike is the fourth since President Bola Tinubu came to power a year ago.

More BBC stories about Nigeria’s economy:

Power cuts across Nigeria as workers go on strike

Is Nigeria on the right track after a year of Tinubu?

Cost of living in Nigeria: people turn to “throwaway” rice for food

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