Fuel Depots Shutdown As NUPENG Begins Nationwide Strike

Activities at fuel depots across the country have been put to a halt as a three-day warning strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers commences.  A three-day warning strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has kicked-off today, as activities at fuel depots across the country have been disrupted.

According to Reporters, as a result of the strike which is to protest against anti-Labour practices in the oil and gas sector, loading of petroleum depots across the nation have been halted. 
Speaking to a correspondent, an official of the union, disclosed that the leaders of the union would hold a meeting with the President Buhari-led Federal Government by 1pm today.


While speaking on Tuesday with journalists shortly after a meeting of the National Executive Committee of NUPENG, the President of NUPENG, Achese Igwe, had said though the strike would commence on Wednesday, the decision to continue with it would be reached at the meeting with the Federal Government delegation on Wednesday.

He said the strike became necessary in order to draw attention to pressing issues in the oil and gas sector, such as casualisation, job security, non implementation of collective agreements and non involvement of the union in the ongoing divestment system by Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited and others.

He said
Quote
, “The NEC held a meeting today to review the three-day warning strike that was scheduled to take place tomorrow (Wednesday).

“However, as you are all aware, it is not an indefinite strike; it is a symbolic strike action to drive home some of those issues that are really challenging, and to give them the ultimate attention as expected.

“They have to do with casualisation, job security, non implementation of collective agreements across the entire country in the oil and gas sector and the balkanisation of the ongoing divestment system.

“NEC directed that pending the outcome of the meeting tomorrow, the three-day warning strike will take place. The Ministry of Labour has called for a meeting with the Minister of Petroleum.

“We are positive that the meeting will resolve the issues; where it fails, the three-day warning strike will take place.”