2007年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Unions Insist on General Strike

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
18 June 2007

Nigeria's top unions say they will begin an indefinite general strike after failing to reach a last-minute compromise with the government. Gilbert da Costa in Abuja reports for VOA on the buildup to what could be a long, crippling shutdown.

The three-week-old Yar'Adua administration is facing one of its biggest challenges to date as an indefinite general strike takes off this week in Nigeria.

Unions officials met and affirmed that the strike should start at midnight to protest a 15 percent increase in gasoline prices, the doubling of a value-added tax and the privatization of two oil refineries² by former president Olusegun Obasanjo days before he left office on May 29. Unions are also pushing for a 15 percent pay rise.

Talks between the government and unions have floundered and the political opposition³ has come out in full support of the action.

"It is the right step in the right direction, because it is anti-people policies that need to be reversed," said Ibrahim Modibo, spokesman of the main opposition party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party. "Not only the fuel [price] but the VAT¹. It is not only anti-people, but I think it is criminal for anybody to arbitrary increase fuel prices without looking at the economic implication on the ordinary Nigerian."

Long lines have formed at fuel pumps across Africa's top oil producer, as a strike by fuel tanker⁴ drivers entered its fifth day.

The new administration is also grappling with an insurgency⁵ in the oil-rich Niger Delta⁶ as well as tensions over flawed elections in May.

Abdullahi Jalo, an executive of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, says a paralyzing strike could destabilize the new government.

"A government that has come in newly, with this type of problems, it is an invitation to anarchy⁷ and chaos," he said. "The only way for this issue to be resolved is to sit at the table, not a strike. A strike will not solve this problem, because it may make an approach for the entire system to be destabilized."

The strike could affect oil exports, but previous strikes in Nigeria have generally been resolved within a few days.

1 vat   

n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶

参考例句：

• The office is asking for the vat papers.办事处要有关增值税的文件。
• His father emptied sacks of stale rye bread into the vat.他父亲把一袋袋发霉的黑面包倒进大桶里。

2 refineries   

精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The efforts on closedown and suspension of small sugar refineries, small saccharin refineries and small paper mills are also being carried out in steps. 关停小糖厂、小糖精厂、小造纸厂的工作也已逐步展开。
• Hence the sitting of refineries is at a distance from population centres. 所以，炼油厂的厂址总在远离人口集中的地方。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 tanker   

n.油轮

参考例句：

• The tanker took on 200,000 barrels of crude oil.油轮装载了二十万桶原油。
• Heavy seas had pounded the tanker into three parts.汹涌的巨浪把油轮撞成三载。

5 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

6 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

7 anarchy   

n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• There would be anarchy if we had no police.要是没有警察，社会就会无法无天。
• The country was thrown into a state of anarchy.这国家那时一下子陷入无政府状态。