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Fuel Scarcity Averted as NUPENG Withdraws Strike Threat

By on August 24, 2012

Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has agreed to call off its impending strike following a seven hour discussion with the Federal Government yesterday.

The meeting which commenced at 2pm had in attendance, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim; acting President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Promise Adewusi; Group Managing Director, NNPC, Andrew Yakubu; Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama; Executive Secretary, PPPRA, Mr. Reginald Stanley;  former NUPENG President, Peter Akpatason and  NLC acting  General Secretary, Chris Uyot.

One of the major reasons for the strike being called off was due to the fact that the FG was able to present information showing it had began to pay the marketers with verified claims.

It was thus agreed at the meeting, that any aggrieved marketer should present his claims for verification and then such companies would be paid, if their claims were found to be in order.

NUPENG President Comrade Igwe Achese confirmed the strike withdrawal.

He said, “You have heard from the Minister of Labour. The strike action has been called off. And we will be lifting products in the north. We talked about the reopening of depots  for loading of products and distribution.”

Achese also called for the punishment of oil maketers as well as government officials who are found guilty in the subsidy scam.

He said, “There must have been collaboration with government officials before such fraud can happen. So, all of them should be indicted and punished.”

The communique issued after the meeting listed the following as issues leading to the dispute: he payment of 2012 petroleum subsidy arrears; non-payment of salaries and threat to oil workers’ jobs; the state of the nation’s refineries and roads; labour issues in Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Chevron and the restructuring of loans of depot owners and oil marketers.

“The meeting confirmed that the Federal Government has been paying verified claims and will continue to pay all claims so verified. The depot owners and oil marketers agreed to keep their facilities open and pay the salaries of their workers. The meeting agreed for continuous engagement between the government and the unions,” the communiqué read.