Nigeria’s challenges have been brought to the forefront by a general strike demanding higher wages this week. The strike, driven by union leaders calling for a higher minimum wage, has brought the country to a standstill by shutting down the national electric grid and several airports.
The question remains whether this general strike will be enough to force the government to change course on the issue of wages. The strike has drawn attention to Nigeria’s challenges, but whether it will lead to tangible results remains to be seen. On this issue, Cyril Vanier hosts a panel of guests including Khalil Halilu, the CEO of Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure; Amaka Anku, Head of the Africa practice of the Eurasia Group; and Hamzat Lawal, an anti-corruption activist and founder of Connected Development, a civil society organization. Their insights shed light on the complexities of Nigeria’s economic situation and the potential impact of the general strike.