The success of the 13-day Nigerian national strike is an encouraging sign from what has up to now been considered one of the most politically backward of the "independent" African states. The strike opened with and ultimatum from the Government - return or face dismissal - and ended with almost complete victory for the strikers. Threats of strikes last October and September resulted in the Government setting up a commission to make provision for an upward revision of incomes of junior workers in Government and private employment, the abolition of the daily wage system, and the introduction of a national minimum wage. This report was ready by the end of April but the Government would not publish it. On May 26th the unions threatened a general strike if the report was not published. On May 30th police attacked workers at a trade union rally and a number of leaders were arrested, The strike began’on May 31, and the report was published on June 3¢
The report recommended a £16.16s to £1l:a month minimum, adding ‘that the present situation was that most workers were “living in conditions of penury." The Government turned this down and put forward the sucgestion of a monthly minimum of £9,2s to £4,153 4d. The present minimum rates are £7.12s - £4, The strike ended with the Government and unions negotiating around the report's recommendations as a basis. The above figures are made even more appalling when compared with the perks enjoyed by the Nigerian political elite. The 27 ministers of the Government earn £3,000 Dede, while the Prime Minister earns £5,000. Each minister is given a £32,000 house. They are excused electricity, telephone and water charges, receive 4 basic car allowance of £80 per month, with an additional 1s3d per mile for official trips. The Federal Parliament meets for only a few weeks a year, but the M.P s are provided with flats in Lagos, and they recently voted themselves a rise of £200 pease Strike leaders have alleged that some Nigerian public figures demand a 10% commission from prospective overseas investors. The strike also resulted in the emergence of a really left wing party, launched at public meeting attended by 6,000 workers.