20100115
africanews

Trade unions in Niger have rejected President Mamadou Tandja's call for economic sacrifices as signs of hardship begin to appear in the West African nation following a number of financial and diplomatic sanctions it faces. Niger's troubles began last year when Tandja refused to leave office after completing two terms last December.
Niger’s constitution allowed only two terms for a president.

But Tandja held a referendum in August 2009 to change the constitution and prolong his stay. The vote was boycotted by the opposition and widely criticised by the international community.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union suspended collaborations with Niger following an October 2009 parliamentary elections held by the government to replace the MPs Tandja disqualified for failing to support his bid to remain in power.

The United States also imposed diplomatic and economic sanctions. On Tuesday, Tandja called on Nigeriens to brace for sacrifices to counter effects of the international sanctions.

“The struggle has only just commenced and this forcibly imposes on us a lot of sacrifice, courage, and determination to overcome numerous challenges that may face us,” Tandja said at a ceremony in Niamey (Capital), according to AFP.

On Thursday, a number of trade unions responded by tagging such a call for sacrifice as useless.

“We don't intend to make useless sacrifices of ourselves for the pleasure of a few Nigeriens,” Innocent Raphael, leader of the Democratic Confederation of Workers of Niger (CDTN), told Dounia Radio – a private station.

“What the president asks isn't responsible. He himself is the cause of the sanctions,” Chaibou Tankari, of the Progressist Trade Union of Workers (USPT) said in a statement.

The trade unions say the sanctions will affect the payment of wages for civil servants.

Tandja critics say he wants to remain in power so he and his collaborations could benefit from a number of projects going on across the uranium-rich nation.

His supporters say his administration brought remarkable prosperity to the arid nation and so needs more terms to complete the billion dollar projects he initiated.