Workers from Nigeria's two largest unions are planning to launch an indefinite strike from Monday if their demands are not met.
Nigerian worker
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are both calling for the government to reverse policies instigated by former president Olusegun Obasanjo just before he left office.
Cancelling the 15% increase in fuel prices and the decision to sell two refinieries to Mr Obasanjo's associates are the main demands. Unions are also calling for a promised 15% wage increase to be honoured.
Government representatives have met with union officials but are yet to make a formal effort to prevent the strike, which is widely seen as a test of the new president Umaru Yar'Adua's resolve. He has already prevented the sale of houses and of Egbin power station 'in the public interest' and may yet act in these cases. He has in fact already agreed, at the Mantu conference, to the need to set up a fund to prevent oil price rises, however no such fund was actually set up.
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