NUPENG calls off strike

[DT]

Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) yesterday called off its strike action in Abuja after reaching an agreement with government on key issues.

The Abuja strike was supposed to be a prelude to a national industrial action which has however been averted following the resolution. Minister of Labour and Productivity Chief Emeka Wogu read a communiqué of the meeting which includes the reconvening of another meeting of all involved in two weeks time for implementation.

The meeting was chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim. Also on the government side were the minister of state finance, Yerima Ngama and the group managing director of the NNPC Andrew Yakubu. The meeting also had oil marketers and companies in attendance.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was represented by its acting president Comrade Promise Adewusi, acting general secretary Chris Uyot and head of administration Emma Ugbuaja.

NUPENG had embarked on strike due to disagreement with government on "payment of 2012 petroleum subsidy arrears, non-payment of salaries and threat of job loss, state of the nation's refineries and roads, labour issues in SPDC and Chevron and the restructuring of loan of depot owners and oil marketers."

Wogu, while reading the communiqué of the meeting which he declared as cordial and fruitful said the Federal Government and the unions agreed to work together towards finding a lasting solution to all the issues in dispute. He said "Federal Government and the unions agreed that all those accused in the fuel subsidy scam should endeavour to submit to the ongoing verification exercise and confirmed that the Federal Government has been paying all verified claims and will continue to pay all claims verified.

"The meeting set up two subcommittees to respectively look into issues concerning unfair labour practices in SPDC and of penalty clauses in the PPPRA rules."

He added that the government agreed to provide platform for all critical stakeholders to meet and discuss efforts being made in the provision of infrastructure and rehabilitation with view to find a way forward.

He stated that depot owners and oil marketers agreed to keep their facilities open and pay the salaries of their workers, stressing that "the meeting agreed to meet in two weeks to review the status of implementation.

NUPENG President Comrade Igwe Achese  expressed hope that two weeks were enough for all concerned to reach an amicable resolution.  The communiqué was signed by promise Adewusi, Igwe Achese, CEO, Oando Marketing Awobokun Abbayomi, Executive Secretary PPPRA Reginald Stanley and IPMAN National Secretary Mike Osatuyi.



Daily Trust