Fuel strike - Nigeria's two main workers' unions and their civil society counterparts have declared Saturday and Sunday rest days to enable Nigerians to replenish their food stock and refresh for the continuation of the nation-wide fuel strike on Monday.

In the economic capital city of Lagos, the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), the coalition of civil society groups driving the protest, announced the suspension of the protests on the two days.

The announcement was made by SNG leader Tunde Bakare, who also informed the mammoth crowd that the white-collar oil union, PENGASSAN (Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria) has agreed to shut down the country oil production at midnight on Saturday, unless the government reverts to the old petrol price of 65 naira per litre.

In the capital city of Abuja, the leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar, told a rally that the two days would be observed as rest days, so that the protests could resume on Monday with renewed vigour.

Talks between the government and labour unions, aimed at ending the five-day strike, ended in a deadlock on Thursday night, and are expected to resume on Saturday.

Pana 13/01/2012