NUPENG strike Archives

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its planned strike.

This followed interventions and engagements with government agencies and institutions, including the NNPC.

The union expressed gratitude to NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Mr Mele Kyari and his team of professionals over the roles they played in positively resolving the impasse.

It stated that: “NNPC’s management has once again proven to the union and the nation that it can be trusted in matters of ensuring decency of employment and peaceful industrial relations in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

“On behalf of members of our union, we promise to reciprocate these commendable efforts with hitch-free and effective distribution of petroleum products during the forthcoming festive period.’’

NUPENG’s President, Mr Williams Akporeha and General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale made the declaration in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos.
Also read;BREAKING: FG to finally remove petrol subsidy – Minister

On Nov. 25, NUPENG extended a 14-day ultimatum earlier given to the Federal Government by seven days.

The planned strike was to protest what NUPENG called non-implementation of agreements reached with government.

“Some of the resolutions from these engagements include commencement of the processes to clear all backlogs of arrears of salaries and allowances owed contract workers of Oil Mining Licence 42 before the end of December.

“The agreement and firm commitment to pay N2.13 million to each of the former employees of the big six contractors whose terminal benefits were short-paid in 2012 following the closure of the contract

Motorists in Kaduna on Sunday thronged petrol stations to fuel their vehicles as the five-day warning strike directed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna State begins.

The NLC had on May 10 said it would ground all activities in the state from May 16, as it begins a warning strike over the irregular sack of civil servants by the state government.

Following the directive, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) also directed its members to shut down services in Kaduna State from May 16.

This development has forced motorists into panic buying of fuel in preparation for the five-day warning strike.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored petrol stations in some parts of the metropolis reports the presence of long queues in most of the stations visited.

Residents were also seen with containers of different sizes at different petrol stations struggling to buy the product.

Some of the petrol stations visited were A. M. Yola Petrol Station, Katsina Road, Mobil Petrol Station, Waff Road, A. Y. M Ashafa Petrol Station, Ahmadu Bello Way, Edi- Jen Petrol Station, Ahmadu Bello Way, among others.

Mr James Audu, one of the motorists at A. M. Yola filling Station, Katsina Road, told NAN that he decided to fill his vehicle tank out of fear that filling stations may not operate from Monday.

“You are aware that NLC is commencing a five-day warning strike in Kaduna state from Monday and you know how critical petrol is to our movement and survival.

“I am here to fill my vehicle tank and a 25 litre container for my generator at home to ensure power supply during the strike days as electricity supply had already been suspended,” he said.

Another motorists, Mr Ibrahim Rasheed, also said that the panic buying of the essential product was necessary to keep businesses going during the strike.

“I am a fashion designer and need power to work. already electricity supply has been suspended, meaning that people like us will have to resort to generator and that cannot happen without fuel,” he said.

The Station Manager, Mr Rayyanu Ahmad, told NAN that they are selling the product because he was yet to receive official directive from the union to suspend services.

“But I assure you we will close down as soon as I receive directive to do so, may be later in the day.

“It will be painful for everyone but we hope for a positive response from the state government at the end of the warning strike,” Ahmad said.

Electricity supply in the state had been suspended since 12 a.m on sunday.

The management of Kaduna Electric, in a statement, informed its customers that the Transmission Company of Nigeria has knocked off all its 33KV lines in the state in compliance with the NLC directive.