Fuel scarcity looms as NUPENG threatens to embark on strike

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers, NUPENG, has issued the Federal Government a two-week strike notice, raising the possibility of fuel scarcity across the country in the coming weeks.

NUPENG members basically control the downstream arm of the oil sector and an industrial action by the union would ground the supply and distribution of petrol nationwide.

NUPENG, calling on the government to attend to oil workers’ welfare warned that it would begin the proposed strike at the expiration of the notice.

This was made known via a statement signed by NUPENG President, Williams Akhoreha, and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi.

The Union listed non-payment of workers’ salaries, title benefits, among others, as reasons for its resolution.

The resolution 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 14 days.

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

Outlining some of the issues, NUPENG mentioned that the first one was the outstanding short payment of terminal benefits to members who were declared redundant in 2012 by the management of Chevron Nigeria limited.

The Union added that contract workers working in Oil Mining Lease 42 of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, a subsidiary of NNPC, were also owed salaries and allowances for upwards of eight to 10 months.