Nigerian unions said on Tuesday they had suspended a nationwide strike to allow wage negotiations to continue after the country's president Bola Tinubu signed a deal with the union on Monday to raise the minimum wage.
"Strike action relaxed for one week to allow the conclusion of negotiation," one of the main unions, Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), said in a statement on X.
The Nigerian government and the Organized Labor reached an agreement after the government assured that Tinubu is dedicated to implementing a national minimum salary above N60,000 (a bit over $40).
"The president [...] is committed to a national minimum wage that is higher than N60,000. Arising from the above, the Tripartite Committee is to meet every day for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable national minimum wage," Nigeria's presidency stated.
The news was announced following the meeting with the leaders of the NLC and the Trades Union Congress (they comprise the Organized Labor) in the country's capital, Abuja, which reportedly lasted almost six hours.
An indefinite strike began last Sunday after labor unions failed to agree on a new minimum wage with the government. Many unions joined the strike, including the National Union of Electricity Employees. This led to suspension of electricity supply to consumers since the early hours of Monday across Nigeria, according to local media.
Moreover, the strikers cut off water and electricity from both houses of the National Assembly —the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Aviation industry workers also joined the strike, which threatened plans by Nigerian Muslims to travel to the Hajj in Saudi Arabia, which will take place this year from June 14 to 19.
However, the government stated that "no worker would be victimized as a result of the industrial action."
On Monday, another African country took a step to improve the situation of workers. According to local media reports, the Namibian Cabinet approved the decision of the Minister of Labor, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation to introduce a national minimum wage of 18 Namibian dollars (approximately $0.96) per hour starting in January 2025, to be reviewed after two years.