NLC, TUC begins strike tomorrow, may curb oil exports

The two main labor federations in Nigeria will go ahead with a planned three-day warning strike tomorrow that may threaten oil exports after talks with the federal and state governments on payment of the minimum wage broke down, union officials said.
“The federal government has refused to pay the minimum wage across the board for all levels of workers,” Owei Lakemfa, Secretary-General of the NLC, said in Abuja. “So the strike is going on.” The Trade Union Congress, which represents managerial workers, is joining the strike in support of demands for the payment of the monthly N18,000 ($118) minimum wage that President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law in March, Peter Esele, said t on Radio Nigeria.
Oil exports from Nigeria may be disrupted by the decision of the two oil unions, Nupeng and Pengassan, affiliates of the federations, to join the strike. Shell, Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp. (CVX), Total and Eni run joint ventures with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that pump most of the country’s crude.
Unions are prepared to call an indefinite strike if the new wage structure is not implemented after this week’s warning strike, Lakemfa said.