Nigeria labour unions suspend nationwide strike

Nigeria's two biggest workers' unions have suspended a nationwide strike after reaching a deal with the federal government.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) began the stay-away, which was described as indefinite, on Tuesday over unpaid salary arrears of workers in Imo state and a recent assault of NLC President Joe Ajaero.

The unions said in a joint statement on X that the government had apologised and promised to investigate the incident.

“Some of the perpetrators have been arrested, and we were given high assurances that all others will be fished out and prosecuted,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the unions are still at loggerheads with the government over the rising cost of living and hike in fuel prices caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy.

The two-day strike saw ports in Lagos state shut, school schedules disrupted and railway travel cancelled.