- Title: Nigerian union goes ahead with fuel protest strike
- Date: 18th May 2016
- Summary: UNION WORKERS MARCHING
- Embargoed: 2nd June 2016 11:45
- Keywords: Nigeria Labour Congress labour union general strike oil
- Location: LAGOS, NIGERIA
- City: LAGOS, NIGERIA
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0034IC3VWN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Nigerian union defied a court ban to launch a general strike on Wednesday (May 18) in protest at a planned hefty increase in fuel prices, though many businesses and government offices opened as normal.
The government hopes lifting costly fuel subsidies, causing prices to rise by up to two thirds at the pumps, will help alleviate the worst crisis in decades in Africa's biggest economy.
The rise will see prices per litre (0.26 U.S. gallon) go up from around 86 naira ($ 0.43 USD) to 145 naira ($ 0.72 USD).
A wave of strikes ensued the last time Nigeria tried to introduce a similar measure in 2012, and authorities eventually reinstated some subsidies.
This time around the Nigerian Industrial Court blocked industrial action due to the risk of civil disorder, but late on Tuesday the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it would go ahead with its planned indefinite strike anyway, starting on Wednesday.
Reuters witnessed government offices, shops and banks in the capital Abuja mostly opening as normal on Wednesday.
Some 300 union activists gathered there to stage a march, and some 200 protested in the commercial capital Lagos, where some banks and many shops were also doing business. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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