2007年VOA标准英语-Nigeria Grinds to a Halt as Strike Begins

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
20 June 2007

Most parts of Nigeria are quiet as many schools and banks closed, following the start of a general strike to protest government price hikes on fuel. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa reports that the new administration is facing its first major crisis.

 

People walk past as they protest in the street against government price rises in Lagos, Nigeria, 20 Jun 2007

The head of the Nigeria Labor¹ Congress, Abdulwahed Omar, one of Nigeria's two powerful unions, says he is satisfied with the first day of the strike.

"Very, very successful, and I want to assure you we are very grateful to Nigerians," he said. "And this clearly shows that Nigerians are really aggrieved². They are angry and it is not too much for Mr. President to salvage³ the situation."

Abuja, the capital, like other main cities in Nigeria, was very quiet with virtually all government offices as well schools, banks and non-essential services closed. Public transport was also shut down.

 

The streets of the largest city, Lagos, were also deserted⁴. Security personnel were patrolling public facilities across the country.

 

Unions called an indefinite strike in the world's eighth largest oil exporter after talks with the government ended in a deadlock⁵.

 

Organized labor rejected government concessions⁶ on gasoline prices, insisting only a full price reversal could make it call off the strike.

 

Support appears very strong on the streets of Abuja.

 

"I support the strike," said a supporter.  "I believe our government takes us for granted. Nigerians are already overburdened by their so-called policies. We need this strike; we need to tell these people enough is enough."

 

"I support the strike entirely⁷; no reservations at all," said another one. "Because the strike is for a just cause. It is important to the people of Nigeria that the issues involved in the strike are resolved in favor of the masses of Nigerians who are suffering tremendously."

"We must begin to understand and behave like a nation in a democracy," said the other supporter. "We cannot be talking of building a democracy when at the same time, the principles and practices that are prescribed by a democratic environment are not respected by a government that is supposed to be leading the way."

 

International flights in and out of the country have also been disrupted as fuel deliveries have been halted.

 

Analysts⁸ say the strike threat is a major challenge to the newly inaugurated President Umaru Yar'Adua, who took office three weeks ago and has yet to name a cabinet.

Union officials say no talks with the government are scheduled.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 aggrieved   

adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• He felt aggrieved at not being chosen for the team. 他因没被选到队里感到愤愤不平。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She is the aggrieved person whose fiance&1& did not show up for their wedding. 她很委屈，她的未婚夫未出现在他们的婚礼上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 salvage   

v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救

参考例句：

• All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed.抢救失事船只的一切努力都失败了。
• The salvage was piled upon the pier.抢救出的财产被堆放在码头上。

4 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

5 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

6 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

7 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。