As the warning strike of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) entered its second day yesterday, long queues were noticed in some parts of Lagos. Also in Abuja, long queues, which were noticed on Monday, increased, with fuel scarcity biting harder. Read more
This is coming at a time when NUPENG said that the strike it embarked upon would continue until the Federal Government addresses the issues in contention. The union also demanded that President Goodluck Jonathan sacked his cabinet.
In Lagos, vehicular movements were impaired in Falomo, Ikoyi; Victoria Island and Iponri as a result of long queues of motorists. The situation was, however, normal in Surulere, Mushin, Ojota, Onipanu, Orile, Ojuelegba, Ikeja, Oshodi and Fadeyi.
Some motorists, who spoke with Daily Sun appealed to the Federal Government to immediately step in to address the situation before it becomes unbearable._ At Falomo, in Ikoyi, only Oando and FO filling stations were selling, out of the six filling stations in the area.
“Government should dialogue with relevant agencies that are concerned because the situation is gradually getting out of hand,” said a concerned motorist, who gave his name as Esan.
He said that he had been in queue for almost two hours, describing the situation as a set-back to government’s transformation agenda in the oil and gas sector.
The situation was, however, different at the Oando filling station, Ojuelegba, where there was no long queue of vehicles.
Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, Lagos chapter, South-West Chairman of NUPENG, explained that the union had earlier given a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve their grievances.
“We were called for a stakeholder meeting today (yesterday) in Abuja and are yet to be attended to._ Many of us came from different parts of the country and will not expect to be provoked further by any delay to hold the meeting to address the issues,” he said.
Korodo disclosed that the union had a meeting with the Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu, till 1 a.m. on Tuesday._
He said that the minister had set up a committee to look into the unfair treatment of Nigerian workers by some oil companies and some other issues._ He said the committee included the permanent secretaries in both the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Ministry of Labour; NUPENG and NNPC officials.
Korodo, however, said that the three-day warning strike would continue, until all issues raised are resolved, adding that government should have averted it when the 14-day ultimatum was given.
Meanwhile Abuja fuel stations began drying up yesterday, as NUPENG, PENGASSAN strike entered the second day with oil workers unions holding in crucial meeting in Abuja.
Yesterday, fuel stations within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja were temporarily shut, as they station did not have fuel,
Meanwhile, oil and Gas workers unions have asked President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the Federal Executive Council members, since they have failed in addressing labour issues and curtailing the excesses of the oil multinationals operating in the country.
This was part of the resolutions of the joint National Executive Council meeting of the NUPENG and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria PENGASSAN in Abuja just, as the NUPENG has said the strike will continue.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, NUPENG president, Achesa Igwe and his PENGASSAN counterpart said the unions stand by their earlier decision to continue with the indefinite strike until government implements all issues agreed upon.
Culled from The Sun newspaper
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