Nigerian state reduces working week to three days amid soaring inflation

The Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced during an online appearance that officials will now be working three days a week. As of Saturday, the prices of transportation services have also been reduced. State companies have cut their prices by 25 percent.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu clarified that such measures are designed to mitigate the effects of the crisis. Inflation in Nigeria is reaching 30 percent, and since May 2023, the Nigerian currency, the naira, has lost 70 percent of its value.

Rising living costs and economic difficulties triggered protests across the country a week ago. Demonstrators in the streets of Lagos carried banners bearing the messages "End the Bad Government" and "End Starvation", as reported by the local portal, lindaikejisblog, on February 19.

"This country is bleeding, this country is in a bad state. People are suffering. No one can afford three, even two meals a day now," a protesting craftsman was quoted on the same day by Africanews portal.