Two state governments in Nigeria have implemented a reduction in the working week for state employees, now consisting of only three days. This decision aims to alleviate the burden of increased petrol costs resulting from the federal government’s removal of fuel subsidies. The country is currently grappling with the challenge of controlling escalating transportation expenses, which are adversely affecting numerous citizens.
The announcements made by the Edo and Kwara state governments regarding the shortened workweek are expected to ignite discussions in both the public and private sectors regarding strategies to assist workers in coping with the mounting costs. While public service staff throughout Nigeria typically work five days a week, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the situation of employees in the private sector, where some individuals are obligated to work for six days.
Moreover, there are indications that other states may follow suit and adopt this new working model. In response to the escalating costs, the federal government of Nigeria has established a team tasked with evaluating agreements reached with organized labor to mitigate the impact. On Wednesday, the unions decided to suspend their planned strike action following a court order.
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Source: Omanghana.com