Petrol row: Was Nigerian strike action justified?

Nigeria has some of the cheapest petrol in the world. But following a 50% increase in fuel prices, unions and workers brought the country to a standstill with a five day general strike. The government eventually backtracked, and reduced the price hike to just 10%.

President Olusegun Obasanjo apologised for not consulting widely enough about the price increase.The Nigerian Labour Congress called off the strike.

Is Nigerian petrol too cheap? Were Nigerians justified in their protests? Or were they making a lot of fuss about nothing?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

---

Your reaction

Petrol prices are not really cheap in Nigeria if you compare the minimum wage of the civil servant to other civilised nations

Christian Obor, Nigeria

I think this strike shows that democracy is getting better. Petrol prices are not really cheap in Nigeria if you compare the minimum wage of the civil servant to other civilised nations.
Christian Obor, Nigeria

An immediate 50% hike in anything is too abrupt. Any increases should be done gradually. I agree with the labour unions for protesting and getting this hike reduced. This is actually a positive step for democracy when the President makes a proposal but compromises due to objection from the people. The cost of gasoline is the lowest in priority of problems facing the Nigerian petroleum industry. Much more will be gained when corruption in this business is curtailed.
Robert Mmereole, Nigeria/ USA

I do not know what subsidy the Nigerian masses enjoy apart from the so-called oil subsidy

Taiyeloluwa, USA

I do not know what subsidy the Nigerian masses enjoy apart from the so-called oil subsidy. Nigeria is consigned to bad infrastructure, bad roads, erratic power and water supply, and the list goes on. Those advising the Government, IMF, World Bank and the like should look at the living conditions of the Nigerian populace and stop making an unwarranted comparison with gasoline prices in other nations, especially the West.
Taiyeloluwa, USA

Fellow Nigerians, you may have won the battle for democratisation of your political system, but you have to go a long way to win the economic reforms.
Hebron Mwakalinga, Tanzania

I think that the strike was justified. Nigeria is one of the leading petroleum producing nations, but it never shows when compared with other nations like Saudi Arabia, in which they have a good welfare provision for their people.
Babatunde Abdulai, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

There are no winners in the sad story that we call Nigeria

Toyin Martschenko, Nigeria/ USA

There are no winners in the sad story that we call Nigeria. The Government is under a great deal of pressure from foreign lenders to tighten its budget. Unfortunately, the completely impoverished masses are in such dire straits that they cannot understand or appreciate the possible longer-term benefits that unsubsidised energy prices might bring.
Toyin Martschenko, Nigeria/ USA

The truth is that I agreed with the people going to strike and the fact that the Government responded positively to their cries was very good progress in our new era of democracy.
Anthony Imudia, a Nigerian in Panamá

I feel that the labour movement was ill-advised to call for a general strike. Nigerians have, in the past, complained that successive military regimes did not care for the welfare of the nation. It will take more than democracy to repair the damage done.
Jonny Kumwenda, Malawi

The oil price of a country which can produce her own oil should not be expensive. The Nigerian Government should consider its management. Don't throw the burden onto the people. It's not necessary to obey the IMF.
I. Phatarinee, Thailand

It is important for Nigerians to understand that nothing short of discipline and acute economic reforms will pull the economy up from the brink of collapse

Ayo Akande, USA

The mere fact that the Government considered the cries of the people is indicative of a prospective thriving democracy. However, it is important for Nigerians to understand that nothing short of discipline and acute economic reforms will pull the economy up from the brink of collapse.
Ayo Akande, USA

I wonder when our leaders will start taking into consideration the welfare of the people of this country rather than satisfying the doubtful advice of the global financial institutions. I hope Obasanjo has learnt the lesson that he should take his people into consideration before taking decisions on sensitive issues.
James Osuwa, Lagos, Nigeria

Nigerians were justified in their 5 day strike. One cannot understand why the poor suffering average Nigerian should be asked to pay another cent for kerosene or fuel when their representatives in the House and Senate are using millions of dollars to furnish their quarters and build special schools/ libraries for their children.
Anthony Udechukwu, USA

At the inauguration of President Obasanjo's government last year, the president committed himself to be responsive to the people's wishes and he made a promise to the NLC last November that there would not be a gas increase without consulting with the organisation. In those circumstances, the strike is absolutely justified.
Ernest Omo-Abu, Nigeria/ New York, USA

There is no harm in increasing the pump price if it is done in a proper manner. However, the way things are done in Africa is very absurd, in particular Nigeria. In the Western world, an increment like this would be minimal with less pain to the populace. It is just a shame that some of the Nigerian so-called leaders or advisers studied abroad but they never put into practice what they learnt.
Bennie Onasanya, Nigerian, UK

I hope that the recent oil strike will be a very good eye opener for Mr Obasanjo

Victor Ogo, USA

I hope that the recent oil strike will be a very good eye opener for Mr Obasanjo. He should now realise that Nigerians are not idiots whom he can push around.
Victor Ogo, USA

I am sure that one can always find a thousand reasons to support the price hike. But why can't we ever find ONE reason to alleviate the suffering of our people? Why is it always our impoverished and much tormented citizens that must bear the burden of economic mismanagement by the demented crooks at the top?
Ubong Effeh, UK

In the last 15 years the Nigerian populace has been so badly squeezed that this increase would have made a hard life even worse. On the other hand, because the refineries are in such bad shape and supplies of fuel have to be kept stable with imports at world market prices, the current situation is not sustainable in the long term. A way out of this would be for the government to get more people back into gainful employment, whether in the public or private sector and then possibly with improved disposable income, fuel price increases might become easier to justify.
Henry Erhiaganoma, UK

I wonder why the President could not even address the public and give his reasons, before taking such a sensitive move.
Tajudeen Isiaka, Nigeria

People are so used to receiving everything gratis that even when there is a genuine case for governments to make sound economic decisions, they are bound to oppose such moves. It is no secret that the Nigerian government spends over two billion dollars annually as subsidies on petroleum products; monies which could be used for development purposes. My only disappointment is the lack of resolve shown by President Obasanjo in giving in to the trade unions.
Zubairu Wai, Sierra Leone

Nigeria, as a nation depends solely on petrol for its funding. The income from other sources could however be better harnessed. Nigerian workers are one of the most poorly paid in Africa. The incomes of Nigeria and expenditure are computed in Naira. It does not make sense when government tries to justify the review in petrol prices with comparisons in US Dollars. There is no economy in the world that is subsidy-free, including the US economy.
John Mairafi Ahmadu, Nigeria

Many businesses in Nigeria rely solely on petrol powered electricity generating sets because the state owned Electricity Corporation only provides epileptic service

Ayoleke Adu, Nigerian, UK

If you take a look at the absolute value of the Nigerian petrol, you might think it is too cheap. However, a critical analysis of the relative value indicates that petrol being the major source of energy in Nigeria is too expensive and the price should be reduced below N15 per litre.
In many developed and emerging markets alternative energy sources like electricity and solar energy are available. Many businesses in Nigeria rely solely on petrol powered electricity generating sets because the state owned Electricity Corporation only provides epileptic service. Despite this inefficient service, many Nigerians are forced to pay for the cost of energy that was neither provided nor consumed.
Ayoleke Adu, Nigerian, UK

Nigerians should learn to resolve issues by discussion rather than by violence

Viv, Malawi/UK

Striking often yields little results. Valuable time and resources in a strike of that magnitude can ran into millions of pounds. Yet Nigerians are prepared to waste all that just because of a few pence increase in petrol prices.
Are the Nigerian Unions aware that this great country is one of 25 least developed countries in the world? Certainly not. Nigeria should have been the Economic hub of Africa but has been reduced to a beggar.
Do you know that Botswana's GDP per capita is more than six times that of Nigeria? Nigerians should stop fussing over nothing. Petrol prices depend on international oil prices. However I do not think that their Government should have set the prices, this should have been left to the markets. Nigerians should learn to resolve issues by discussion rather than by violence.
Viv, Malawi/UK

The Nigeria petrol is not too cheap compared to the wages the workers are paid. In California USA, the cost of unleaded petrol is rising up to $2.00 a gallon and people are crying about the high cost of fuel. Wages in California is 100% more than the average worker in Nigeria. The average State Worker in Nigeria earns $50.00 a month compared to USA lowest wage of $5.75hr.
I am of the opinion the strike was justified, due to the fact that inflation is over 100% in the large cities of Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Ibadan etc. The present government is not doing anything to help the high rate of unemployment and inflation. Jobs are few, and college graduates with degrees cannot find adequate employment from the private sector or the Federal government. Jobs need to be created for the masses.
Only the rich with corrupt savings in USA and European Banks can afford basic living commodities that we take for granted in the developed world.
Robby Igodan, USA