Nigerian President Announces Government Austerity

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　　The president announced that foreign travel of government officials will be reduced to the barest minimum and that salaries, including his own, will be cut by 25 percent.

　　"On the part of government, we are taking several measures aimed at cutting the size and cost of government, including an ongoing¹ and continuous effort to reduce the size of our recurrent expenditure² and increase capital spending," said Mr. Johnson.

　　The president's address to the nation on the state-run Nigerian Television Authority comes ahead of a planned nationwide strike over spiraling fuel costs.  Labor unions have announced indefinite strikes starting Monday.

　　Prices of gas soared after the government ended fuel subsidies³ January 1, leading to increased prices of transportation and food.

　　Angry Nigerians have been protesting in the past week and some of the protest in the capital Abuja have turned violent.

　　But some economists⁴ say the subsidies encouraged corruption⁵.

　　Nigeria is a large producer of crude oil, but depends largely on imports for fuel because its refineries⁶ are in disrepair after years of mismanagement.

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