Following the removal of fuel subsidies that led to a dramatic and instant increase in the price of fuel and food, Nigeria has seen protests (pictured above), strikes and violence. President Goodluck Jonathan, boxed into a corner, has
partially removed the fuel subsidies:
Nigerian unions have suspended their crippling week-long strike,
news agencies report, after Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s president, cut
petrol prices by 31 per cent on Monday and promised to investigate oil
sector corruption.
Unions had called the strike after the removal of fuel subsidies. “In
the past eight days through strikes, mass rallies, shutdown, debates
and street protests, Nigerians demonstrated clearly that they cannot be
taken for granted and that sovereignty belongs to them,” Abdulwahed
Omar, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said during a
press conference. “Labour and its allies formally announce the
suspension of strikes, mass rallies and protests across the country.” It
remains unclear whether the suspension of the strike is conditional.
It is unclear if the partial reinstatement of the subsidy will quell protests.
