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Looming Strikes: FG to Meet PHCN, NUPENG for Final Talks Today

By on August 22, 2012

Fuel Queue

The Minister of Labour is scheduled to meet with union leaders representing PHCN employees and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) today.

The Unions are threatening to embark on an industrial action following disagreements with government over terminal benefits (in the case of PHCN employees) and  verified subsidy claims payments (in the case of NUPENG).

The National Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its support behind NUPENG, asking that the government show immediate proof that it ill commence payment to fuel marketers or face a full blown industrial action.

Acting General Secretary of NUPENG, Comrade Isaac Aberare, said “We expect government to plead that we suspend the planned strike and that everything will be done to pay the marketers. But if that is all they will tell us without evidence of payment, our Monday ultimatum subsists because the jobs of our members  in Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farms Owners of Nigeria, JEPTFON, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, DAPPMA and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN , are at risk. In fact, they have not been paid for the past five months. They have suffered a lot. What I am saying is that if the government fails to provide convincing evidence of payment, I am afraid, we will commence full blown nationwide strike after Thursday.”

NLC  Acting General Secretary, Comrade Chris Uyot discussed the demands from PHCN workers.

Acting General Secretary of NLC, Comrade Chris Uyot, on his part said: “We will attend the meeting with the Minister of Labour. We expect government to present a report of the last meeting which recalled the demands of NLC that the Minister promised to take to the appropriate authorities for action. Some of the demands are the withdrawal of soldiers from PHCN installations. It is the report that will determine the next line of action.”

President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese has demanded on the resignation of Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. He accused the minister of paying subsidy to portfolio importers whilst ignoring the petroleum marketers with tangible investments in the sector.

He said that NUPENG was not being used by any group to frustrate the government, debunking FG allegations that the planned strike was being orchestrated by aggrieved petroleum marketers.

According to him, “NUPENG cannot and will never be used by the Federal Government, institutions, companies because we are stakeholders in the industry. The fight and struggle for the enthronement of democracy in this country during the June 12, 1993 struggle cannot be in vain.

“The struggle for the emancipation of Nigerians from the hands of the military cannot be rubbished or swept under the carpet by some ministers. It is our firm belief that His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the number one worker of our great country, Nigeria, will heed this clarion call in order to move the transformation agenda forward.”