2 Nigerian states reduce work days because of petrol hike

By Olanrewaju Kola

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Two Nigerian states have reduced working days for public workers following a rise in transportation costs, food and other essentials that was triggered by a hike in petrol prices.

Edo State in the south and northcentral Kwara State have announced a three-day work week because of the high cost of petrol.

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State said the high cost of transpiration and food have eaten into the wages of workers two weeks after the federal government announced the removal of a subsidy on petrol.

"The Edo State government is hereby reducing the number of work days that civil and public servants will have to commute to their work places, from five days a week, to three days until further notice. Workers will now work from home two days," he said in a statement.

Obaseki said the new work policy was to reduce the suffering of people following the hike.

A spokesman for the governor of Kwara State, Rafiu Ajakaiye, told Anadolu the state was working on ways to implement work days, especially for essential workers.

"We are working out the modalities for the take off of the policy to temporarily reduce work days to three, especially for school teachers, health, and judicial workers," he said.

President Bola Tinubuc announced the removal of subsidy payments on petrol on May 29. The nation's petroleum corporation, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) also increased the price of oil.