Nigeria’s President Boosts Salaries to Avoid Government Shutdown

In a last-minute effort to prevent a planned strike that could shut down government offices across Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has announced an increase in the wages of some government workers. The move is aimed at appeasing labor unions, who have been protesting the government’s austerity measures.

Starting this month, low-grade workers will see an additional $32 added to their monthly pay, bringing the minimum wage to $71. However, this is still far below the $258 that the unions had requested. The labor unions have not yet commented on Tinubu’s announcement.

The unions representing Nigeria’s government workers had earlier announced plans to go on an indefinite strike starting Tuesday. They are protesting against the government’s austerity measures, which they believe have worsened the country’s economic situation.

Tinubu, who has been in office since May 29, has implemented policies aimed at fixing Nigeria’s struggling economy. However, these policies have led to a significant increase in the cost of living for the country’s 210 million people, who are already grappling with high inflation. In August, inflation reached an 18-year high of 25.8%.

One of Tinubu’s first actions in office was to end expensive gas subsidies. This led to a sharp increase in the price of petrol, as well as other commodities. The government’s devaluation of the currency further exacerbated the situation, causing prices, including food prices, to soar.

Talks between the government and the labor unions have stalled, and previous intervention efforts have been slow to yield results. This has led to the announcement of the indefinite strike. In his broadcast, Tinubu stated that the new wage increase would improve workers’ pay “without causing undue inflation.”

Tinubu also appealed to Nigerians to bear with his government during these economic hardships, acknowledging that the burdens they are facing should have been addressed years ago. He expressed his hope that the current difficulties would eventually lead to a better future for the country.

In addition to the wage increase, Tinubu’s administration is also taking steps to boost employment and incomes. They are providing investment funding for enterprises and will be giving cash handouts to an additional 15 million “vulnerable households” as part of a social welfare program.