Nigerian President Announces Government Austerity

 　　Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan went on television Saturday to promise that the government will share hardship with ordinary citizens, hit by rising fuel costs.

　　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.

1 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

2 expenditure   

n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗

参考例句：

• The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
• The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。

3 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 refineries   

精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The efforts on closedown and suspension of small sugar refineries, small saccharin refineries and small paper mills are also being carried out in steps. 关停小糖厂、小糖精厂、小造纸厂的工作也已逐步展开。
• Hence the sitting of refineries is at a distance from population centres. 所以，炼油厂的厂址总在远离人口集中的地方。