Tina Amanda
Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, says if the seven days extended ultimatum it issued elapses and no better agreement is reached between the Union and the companies involved, the strike action will continue.
NUPENG National Treasurer, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, in an interview with our correspondent, explained that the initial 14 days ultimatum would have elapsed on Sunday 28 November 2021, but following the intervention of NNPC and some Agencies, it was extended by seven days more for further engagement with the companies.
Comrade Agwanwor who is also the Vice-Chairman Nigerian Labour Congress Rivers State said the Union has the mandate to protect its workers’ welfare, which has been compromised over the period for the sake of the masses.
“We have been very careful about embarking on any kind of Nationwide strike, we have tried to make sure we avoid it, but we need to do what is needful, It’s obvious because of that the companies are taking us for granted. This time around we have asked the government to engage them.
“We want implementation, the best thing for those involved in the intervention process, the government and other agencies is to advise the companies. That seven days will elapse on Sunday 5 November 2021, we hope those engagements would be fruitful, if not we have no choice after the seven days, the strike will continue.”
He however sympathize with the negative effect the strike action would have on the masses, bothering on the economic situation of the nation.
“Considering where the nation is right now in terms of the economy and the impact the strike action, I truly feel the pain that the strike would have. For us, as NUPENG the ultimatum calls for intervention and dissolution to avoid the strike, but if nothing happens I plead that the masses to bear with us, also understand it is for the interest of our members nationwide.”
Earlier, the Union has issued a two-week strike notice to the federal government, raising the possibility of fuel scarcity across the country in the coming weeks.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by NUPENG president, Williams Akhoreha, and general secretary, Olawale Afolabi, on Monday 15 November 2021.
The union said the notice of strike was one of the decisions reached at its special national delegates conference on Thursday.
It listed non-payment of workers’ salaries and benefits, among others, as reasons for its resolution.
One of the issues was the outstanding payment of terminal benefits to its members that were declared redundant in 2012 by the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited.
The union accused the management of Chevron of terminating the employment of contract workers without payment of benefits, because the employees joined the union, despite the workers putting in 10 to 20 years.
