Lagos, Sept. 29, 2023: The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has directed its members in the formal and informal sector of the oil and gas industry to shut down services effective Oct. 3, 2023.
NUPENG’s President, Mr Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale, gave the direction in a statement on Thursday.
“Consequent upon the joint resolution of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) as the outcome of the joint NEC meeting of the two Labour Federation, held on 26th September,
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“We wish to inform all our members in the formal and informal sectors of the Nigeria oil and gas industry and alert the general public that the rank and file members of our union are hereby directed to commence full mobilisation.
“Also ensure an unwavering compliance with the directive of the two labour centres to all affiliate industrial unions to embark on a nationwide industrial action from midnight of 3rd October, 2023, “ the duo said.
It stated that all NUPENG members, including the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, Petrol Stations Workers, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers, and all other allied workers in the value chain of petroleum products distribution must comply with the directive from midnight of Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
Both leaders said the union was aware of the huge impact a 24 hours industrial action by the organised labour could have on businesses and socio-economic lives of the nation.
“Unfortunately, the government’s actions and inactions are inextricably forcing the organised labour to take this very hard and painful route of last resort to demand for needful socio-economic policies to ameliorate and cushion the debilitating and dehumanising living conditions of Nigerians generally, “ the leaders said.
NLC and TUC had in a joint conference held on Sept. 26, 2023 declared an indefinite strike across the country on Oct. 3, 2023 in protest against government’s delay in providing palliatives to cushion the economic hardship resulting from the fuel subsidy removal.
