Government workers march over high cost of living

Over 2,000 striking government workers took to the streets of the Niger capital Niamey on Thursday to protest against the high cost of living. A coalition of unions organising the march said over 3,000 people had heeded their call to strike, though observers estimated turnout was closer to 2,000. Protest organiser, Nouhou Arzika, said that they were calling on the government to reduce water and electricity bills and the cost of education. They also wanted petrol prices reduced by 35 to 50 percent. “It is inadmissible that the high cost of social services is making them unavailable to the average Nigerien. Civil society will not wait with its arms crossed in the face of unscrupulous exploitation of the masses. We have decided to pursue this fight until we are satisfied that our demands have been met,” said Arzika. The coalition, which goes under the banner “fairness, equality and the fight against the high cost of living,” on Wednesday called on residents of Niamey to observe a strike Thursday. But the government warned workers to ignore the call and turn up to work as usual. Protest organiser Kadi Maliki told IRIN that the problem will not go away and that government workers would be striking again next week. “The government should listen to the message coming from civil society and find positive solutions and redress. If not, it runs a serious risk by turning a deaf ear,” Maliki warned. Thursday’s march is the latest in a series of protests against falling standards of living in Niger, the world’s poorest country according to the UN. On 1 June students staged violent protests in Niamey, demanding the government resolve a stand-off with teachers unions and get their teachers back in the classrooms. On 15 March 2005, some 50,000 people turned out on the streets of Niamey to demand action on high food prices and falling incomes. SA/SS/NR