The national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers {NUPENG) says it will not hesitate to call on all members throughout the country for a total shut down of all services in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.
The Leadership said the decision was a result of the violent turn of the event during the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) peaceful protests in Kaduna State.
This was contained in a statement signed by the NUPENG National President, Comrade Williams Akporeha in Kaduna.
“NUPENG warns that if any harm is inflicted on any of the members of organized Labour, the Leadership of the Union will not hesitate to act on its decision,” the statement read in part.
The President of the Union, therefore, called on the Federal government to immediately call on Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai to order.
According to Akporeha, the Union reiterates that no Labour Leaders or workers as the case may be, be harmed, harassed, maimed, humiliated or victimized during this 5-day peaceful protests in the State.
“The Union is raising the alarm following the very reliable report of the move by the Governor to hurt and put the lives of NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and other Labour Leaders to danger.
“The union is therefore putting all NUPENG members nationwide on red alert and may at very short notice of five hours call for a nationwide industrial action if the situation arises.”
Meanwhile, in another communique issued by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on the ongoing strike, the President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye said all unions are united in arms against exploitation.
“The NLC and TUC are United in arms against exploitation, oppression, victimization and all acts that enslave the Nigerian worker, workers are not slaves.“
According to him, the TUC is aware and monitoring the ongoing strike in Kaduna state adding that the visit by the union to the Head of Service (HoS) in Kaduna was not designed by any means to undermine the strike action nor was it meant as a solidarity visit to the state government and should not be taken as such.
“That it was principally undertaken as a fact-finding mission and to further engage the state government on the way out through social dialogue that will benefit the workers and people of Kaduna state.
“The congress, therefore, assured the workers and general public that labour unity has not been compromised. “We are in solidarity with the NLC on the strike in Kaduna and we look forward to its early amicable resolution.“
PIAK
