ULC strike: NUPENG members down tools

SEQUEL to the nationwide strike action called by the United Labour Congress (ULC), members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), on Monday, embarked on an indefinite strike action, thus giving an indication of a looming fuel scarcity.

The nationwide strike was, however, not effective in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of the country as workers disregarded the directive of the leadership of ULC.

Apart from the depots, normal activities were not disrupted in banks and other government offices as workers went about their activities unhindered.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on Monday, cautioned motorists across the country against ‘panic buying’ of any petroleum product as a result of the strike action by NUPENG members.

The President of ULC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, had warned last week that the ULC and all its affiliates would embark on an indefinite strike until all its demands were met by the government, including its registration.

In a swift response, the Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, warned the ULC not to embark on such strike, because it is not yet a registered Federation of Trade Unions.

The minister said the ULC had no power to direct workers to embark on strike.

Also the National Union of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, (NUBIFIE), on Sunday dissociated itself and all its members across the country from the planned strike called by the ULC.

Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune on Monday revealed that operations at various depots across the country were disrupted which resulted into partial fuel lifting in few depots and NNPC depots.

Bank workers and electricity workers under the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Employees (NUBIFIE) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) were seen at their various posts with no sign of joining the strike action for now.

Meanwhile, Comrade Ajaero, in a statement issued on Monday, said the strike was largely successful and the objective was achieved, adding that the strike would continue today.

He said: “We recorded huge success in the target that we set for ourselves to achieve. Recall that this unfortunate turn was foisted on us by the recalcitrant nature of the federal government in refusing to meet our legitimate demands which we had made available to them for nearly two months ago.

“Nigerians should ask the Federal Government that has refused to negotiate with us in order to address the issues we raised on the spurious charge that ULC is not recognised; who registered JOHESU as a trade union? Who registered NARD? The same Federal Government has been negotiating with these unregistered bodies and the issue of certification never arose.

“The talk about registration or non-registration is therefore a crass ploy by the Federal Government to play politics with our legitimate demands thus divert the attention of unsuspecting Nigerians from the serious issues affecting Nigerian workers and masses which we had raised in our list of demands.”

Ajaero said the union had adopted a gradual and systematic approach in implementing this strike in order to reduce the suffering that may be foisted on Nigerian workers and masses if the whole weight is applied at the same time.

However, he urged all Nigerians to bear with them as it is a necessary sacrifice that must be made to assist those in government to be more responsible and responsive to the demands of Nigerian workers and masses.

“That is the only way we can get this matter amicably resolved.  Our hands are always on the plough! Nothing shall take it away from where it is kept; not corruption and not intimidation; not gimmickry and not outright barefaced lies as spurn by the student liar and his puppets,” he said.

NNPC, in a statement signed by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, Group General Manager (Group Public Affairs Division), said the corporations had sufficient Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, in stock to serve the nation for 48 days.

“Similarly, there is in stock, sufficient quantity of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) as well as Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) to serve the country.