Calling the government’s concessions too little too late, labor unions began their indefinite strike today in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s government had two weeks starting June 1 to meet the workers’ demands concerning their wages, an increase in value added tax (VAT) and a reduction in petrol prices. They also asked for the reversal of a privatization of two oil refineries.

On Tuesday the government announced unions that it would increase the workers’ pay by 15 percent and reverse the 5 percent rise in VAT, as well as conduct a review of the privatization deals.

The government said it could not reduce petrol prices to 50 cents per liter, but that it would lower the cost from the current 59 cents to 54 cents.

Unions rejected the offer and said they would go on strike indefinitely, a move that could well paralyze Africa's largest oil-producing nation. They also invited banks, markets and schools nationwide to join the strike.

It was Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, who raised oil prices, doubled the value added tax and supported the sale of the two refineries.

It is now up to the new president, Umaru Yar'Adua, to untangle the situation.