Nigeria’s leader increased the wages of some government workers in last-minute efforts to appease labor 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 ($32) 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 ($71), still far below the 200,000 naira ($258) the unions had requested.
The labor 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 a surging inflation. It hit an 18-year high of 25.8% in August.
After he ended the years long expensive subsidies for gas on his first day in office, the price of petrol more than doubled, resulting in a similar hike in the price of other commodities. The government’s devaluation of the currency further increased prices, including food.
Talks with the labor unions have stalled and a slow start to several intervention efforts resulted in last week’s announcement of the indefinite strike.
On Sunday, Tinubu said the new wage increase will enhance the workers’ pay “without causing undue inflation.”
He again appealed to Nigerians to bear with his government during the economic hardship, saying that the burdens they face today “should have been shed years ago.”
“I wish today’s difficulties did not exist. But we must endure if we are to reach the good side of our future,” he said.
To boost employment and incomes, Tinubu said his administration is providing investment funding for enterprises and will start giving cash handouts to additional 15 million “vulnerable households” as part of a social welfare program.
In other news – Paris Jackson’s alleged stalker jailed after being caught on her LA property
Police were called to Paris’ Los Angeles area home in early September after the suspected showed up. It has been reported security kept an eye on the suspect until officers arrived. Ruben Palenco, 37, was taken to the county jail, where he has been held ever since. A bail has been set at $20,000 and Palenco has been charged with 4 misdemeanors, including stalking and prowling.
Investigators say Palenco turned up on Paris’ property on New Year’s day and he was reportedly seen there twice in August prior to his arrest on September 4, according to TMZ. LAPD Threat Management team are reportedly continuing to investigate. The daughter of singer Michael Jackson and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe has been at Paris Fashion Week, modelling for shows. The actress, 25, was spotted at numerous events in the French capital. Read More
