Africa’s most populous country is facing its worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, with double-digit inflation leaving many Nigerians struggling to afford food.
The two main unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said they urged workers to strike after the government refused to increase its minimum wage offer beyond 60,000 naira ($40) a month.
The current minimum monthly wage is 30,000 naira. The NLC said it had called for the minimum wage to rise to 494,000 naira.
Government buildings, petrol stations and courts in the capital Abuja were closed, according to AFP journalists, while the doors to the city’s airport were also shut and long queues formed outside.
“Today we didn’t do anything at the office, it was virtually empty. Everything is at a standstill, there’s no light at my house and very few gas stations are selling fuel,” said Charles, a 53-year-old government administration worker in Abuja.
Eight members of Nigeria’s Super Eagles football squad, including winger Ademola Lookman, were stranded by the airline disruptions and could not make a World Cup qualifier training session, a team spokesman said.
In the economic capital Lagos, the strike also took effect, with bands of schoolchildren walking home from empty schools and workers picketing outside a courthouse where the gates were padlocked.
“Nigeria workers stay at home. Yes! To a living wage. No! To a starvation wage!” the unions said in a joint statement.
An NLC spokesman confirmed they would meet with government negotiators on Tuesday for emergency talks.
The unions are also protesting an electricity tariff hike and there have been widespread blackouts after the Transmission Company of Nigeria said workers said had shut down the national grid overnight.
The United Nigeria Airline told customers that airports across the country had been closed due to the strike. In a statement on X, Nigerian carrier Air Peace also warned of “disruptions or possible cancellations” across its network.
Since coming to office a year ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ended a fuel subsidy and currency controls, leading to a tripling of petrol prices and a spike in living costs as the naira has slid against the dollar.
Tinubu has called for patience to allow the reforms to work, saying they will help attract foreign investment, but the measures have hit Nigerians hard.
“Workers are finding it very stressful and demoralising,” said civil society activist Veteran Chi. “It’s really tough and people can’t buy anything.”
A source close to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said domestic flights had been cancelled and the airport would be shut to all flights on Tuesday.
AFP has contacted FAAN for confirmation.
Airport workers’ unions said in a joint statement they were withdrawing all services from Tuesday to allow international flights already airborne to land before their full action begins.
“All aviation workers should recognise the seriousness of this struggle and comply unfailingly. All branch officers of our unions shall ensure compliance at all airports.”
Security was stepped up with an increased presence of soldiers on the streets of Abuja.
