historyJun 22, 20261:38pending
22 June 1945: Nigeria general strike
About this episode
On this day, 22 June 1945, tens of thousands of workers in Nigeria defied the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and walked out on a general strike in protest at the British colonial administration refusing to meet workers' demands for a minimum wage of 2 shillings and sixpence and a 50% increase in the cost of living allowance.
The TUC wanted to delay any action, but after months of agitation involving mass meetings of up to 8,000 workers at a time, the workers were not prepared to wait any longer. Railway employees, dockers and civil service workers walked out while many workers at private firms refused to cross picket lines.
At its peak, between 42,000 and 200,000 workers were out, and despite the deployment of British troops and sabotage by some nationalist groups like the Nigeria Youth Movement the stoppage lasted 45 days.
The strike was largely successful, as the cost of living increase was awarded in 1946, backdated to the previous year.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9494/Nigeria-general-strike
Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
The TUC wanted to delay any action, but after months of agitation involving mass meetings of up to 8,000 workers at a time, the workers were not prepared to wait any longer. Railway employees, dockers and civil service workers walked out while many workers at private firms refused to cross picket lines.
At its peak, between 42,000 and 200,000 workers were out, and despite the deployment of British troops and sabotage by some nationalist groups like the Nigeria Youth Movement the stoppage lasted 45 days.
The strike was largely successful, as the cost of living increase was awarded in 1946, backdated to the previous year.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9494/Nigeria-general-strike
Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
- See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/today
- Browse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/date
- Check out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.com
- Check out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com
- If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History
Get every episode summarized
Each time On This Day in Working Class History publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from On This Day in Working Class History
13 September 1943: Belle Vue Harel strike
On This Day in Working Class History
Sep 13, 20262:06completed
12 September 2012: Georgia prison protests
On This Day in Working Class History
Sep 12, 20261:41completed
11 September 2017: Kenya taxi strike
On This Day in Working Class History
Sep 11, 20261:32completed
10 September 1979: McDonald's strikers win
On This Day in Working Class History
Sep 10, 20260:54completed