LAGOS, Nigeria, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Nigerian labor unions suspended protests but said they would continue striking even though the country's president promised relief over fuel prices.
Prices for gasoline in Nigeria doubled when President Goodluck Jonathan ended a fuel subsidy in place for roughly 40 years. Most of the Nigerian population survives onm about $1 per day but the government said it could no longer afford to keep the subsidy in place.
Union officials last week said they'd suspend protests to continue negotiations with the government. By Monday, Jonathan said he'd cut gasoline prices after speaking with union officials, though labor leaders complained his concessions fell well short of expectations.
Abdulwaheed Omar, the president of Nigeria Labor Congress, said protests were suspended because of security concerns but noted the general strike would continue. Other leaders were quoted by Bloomberg News as saying protests were "suspended" but workers were called on "to sit at home."
The labor action is compounding threats from Islamic militant group Boko Haram, which aims to establish an Islamic state in a country divided largely along Christian and Muslim lines.
Nigeria generates about 80 percent of its income through oil sales.
