NUPENG issues strike notice as fuel scarcity looms

By Nneka Nwogwugwu

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has issued a 14 days ultimatum as fuel scarcity looms in different cities of Nigeria.

NUPENG’s President, Comr. Prince Williams Akporeha and General Secretary, Comr. Olawale Afolabi released this statement on Monday.

Before this statement, there have been long fuel cues in Abuja and Port Harcourt last week.

Reacting to this development an ultimatum decision was taken after a special National Delegates Conference of our Union convened on Thursday 11th November 2021 to amend some clauses of our Constitution.

The statement read in part: “ We write to convey to the general public and all relevant government agencies the resolution of the Special National Delegates Conference to issue a 14 day notice of a nationwide industrial action if some legitimate welfare and Membership related issues that have been variously resolved in our Favour even by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment are not adequately and conclusively addressed and resolved within the next fourteen days.

“This Ultimatum takes effect from Monday 15th, November, 2021.”

Among the issues raised during the meeting include, the outstanding short payment of terminal benefits to members that were declared redundant in 2012 by management of Chevron Nigeria limited.

These benefits were in line with the subsisting Collective Bargaining Agreement as at the to these workers were laid off. This fact has been severally established but Chevron management unscrupulously short paid these workers and locked them out of its premises.

Also, Chevron management also terminated the employment of Contract workers in MUYIDEEN (Labour Contractor) and YKISH (Labour Contractor) because these workers consented to join the Union and when the employment of these workers who have variously put in between 10 to 20 years in continuous employment was terminated, no single kobo has been paid to them as terminal benefits.

“There is also the matter concerning PYRAMIDT workers, who for more than 20 years now being moved from one Labour Contractor to another without conditions of service and Union representation/ recognition,” the statement added.

In explaining the number of years spent in achieving their cause, NUPENG informed that the struggle for the unionization have spanned several years with workers remaining resolute to be members of NUPENG.

According to the statement, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment also ruled that the Contractor should accedes to the demands of the workers to belong to NUPENG after receiving the report of the Visitation Panel sent by the Ministry to the workplace to determine the nature of work and services these workers are rendering.

Several members of these workers have left jobs after several years through old age or death and they left without any terminal benefits to show for several years of services.

It also stated that “Contract workers working in OML 42 of NPDC are being continuously owed salaries and allowances for upwards of 8 to 10 months and every efforts to make management of NPDC and the Contractors do the needful on the pitiable plights of these hapless workers haven’t received any meaningful attention and actions.

“Nigeria Agip Oil Company and its Contractors are also owing Contracts Workers’ salaries and allowances for upwards of 10 months.

“These Workers are being denied salaries and allowances on very inhuman and wicked excuses that the Contractors are yet to fulfill certain due process, yet this due process is not stopping NAOC from exploiting the skills and sweats of these Nigerians for profits while the workers and their families are wallowing in hardship and poverty.”

The Special National Delegates Conference in session noted with deep disappointment that despite the fact that these issues have been tabled before different government agencies/institutions and they have been resolved, the decisions remain unimplemented while our members keep suffering in excruciating jeopardy.

NUPENG, in conclusion of their meeting, resolved and directed, that these issues do not require any further meetings or negotiations but decisive actions and implementation of all established issues within the period of our notice to all concerned.