Nigeria orders return to work

Lagos has been badly hit by recent fuel price hikes

A senior government official in Nigeria has ordered senior civil servants to return to work immediately or risk losing their jobs.

The order came after many offices in the country were closed down as part of a national strike over fuel price rises.

The head of the civil service Abu Obe said in a statement that senior civil servants were not permitted by law to join the national strike called by the umbrella labour group the Nigeria Labour Congress.

The statement said junior workers who wished to continue with the action could do so pending final resolution of the crisis.

We shall continue with our strike until the president listens to labour

Adams Oshimole, Union leader

The commercial capital, Lagos, was deserted with no public transport in sight. But airport officials said some international flights had taken off from Lagos.

Officials from oil companies said their operations had not been affected by the strike action.

The Labour congress strike which began on Thursday was joined by the main oil workers' union on Friday.

The strike is a test of strength for the unions - which have re-emerged in the past year following the return to democratic rule.

Snubbed concession

The Nigerian Government, which originally announced a 50% price rise, offered to reduce it to a 25% but this has been rejected by the unions.

Presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe said the compromise reflected President Obasanjo's belief "in upholding the tenets of democracy".

The leader of the NLC Adams Oshimole, said the strike will continue and described the government concession as "unacceptable".

Last week the government raised the price of petrol from 20 to 30 naira per litre ($0.20-$0.30).

The NLC is demanding an outright return to the old price of 20 naira per litre.

The price of petrol and diesel has long been one of Nigeria's hottest political issues.

The country has large oil reserves and its production costs are low, so Nigerians have come to see very cheap petrol as their right - the one certain benefit they get from their national oil wealth.

Attempts in the past to raise the price have brought an angry reaction on the streets.