- Title: Nigerian union goes ahead with fuel protest strike
- Date: 18th May 2016
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAGOS STATE COUNCIL TREASURER, NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS, ADESEGUN RAHEEM, SAYING: "The fact is that the voice of the masses, the only opposition to the government is, of course, the labour movement, and that is why we engaged the government in sporadic discussions. Unfortunately they were adamant in retaining 145 naira despite the fact that the average person cannot go to the market and come back. The poor are becoming poorer while the rich are becoming richer." (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, NIGERIA UNION OF TEACHERS, AKINTOYE HASSAN, SAYING: "It is critical, because the future of this country actually lies in the hands of teachers. We are the custodian of the younger generation and if by virtue of our relevant position, we cannot join a course that will actually tailor the future of the younger generation towards prosperity, economic reliance, a stable nation, then why are we here in the first instance? We have every cause to join the struggle that will lead to the emancipation of Nigeria." PROTESTERS WALKING PAST / SECURITY VEHICLE SECURITY OFFICER SEATED ON VEHICLE PROTESTERS WALKING PAST CARRYING A NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS FLAG PROTESTERS GATHERED AT A ROUNDABOUT/STATUE OF TWO PEOPLE HOLDING A NIGERIAN FLAG VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED UNION LEADER ADDRESSING THE CROWD, SAYING (English): "Greatest Nigerian people, as from tomorrow it is total shutdown. Any filling station that is selling fuel, go and get it free of charge, it is our money." VARIOUS OF PROTESTER HOLDING NEWSPAPER WITH HEADLINE (English): "SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY, ENOUGH OF SUFFERING AND SMILING" (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOTORIST, SAYING: "We don't need to do this, I mean it's not Buhari's fault. This problem has been there for years and we don't need to...he is not the creator of this problem, we need to apply common sense." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING PAST CARS DRIVING PAST PROTESTERS
- 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: LVA0024IC3VWN
- 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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