Indefinite Strike: NUPENG to Shut Down Fuel Supply Operations  

* Directs tanker drivers to join strike

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja 

Amidst growing tension over the indefinite strike ordered to commence on Tuesday, October 3, by organised labour, the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has asked their members to withdraw services.

The union said that it is very disturbing and unfortunate that the Federal Government of Nigeria and other tiers of governments are so insensitive to the excruciating and debilitating socio/economic pains Nigerians are passing through as a result of very harsh and sudden economic policies taken by the current administration.

In a mobilization letter jointly signed by NUPENG President, William Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the leadership of the oil workers said that although they are aware of the huge impacts a 24-hour industrial action by the organized labour can have on businesses and socio/economic lives of the nation, the government’s actions and inactions are inextricably forcing the organized labour to take this very hard and painful route.

“Consequent upon the joint resolution of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress as the outcome of the joint National Executive Council meeting of the two Labour Federation, held on 25th September, 2O23, 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 mobilization and ensure an unwavering compliance with the directive of the two labour centres to all affiliate unions to embark on a nationwide industrial action from midnight of 3rd October, 2023,” it said.

The leadership of NUPENG described as worrisome the apparent lack of regards and respect to the cries and yearnings of the organised labour, civil society organisations and the general public by this administration. 

“lt appears the administration is arrogantly taking the good will and the tolerance level of the workers and Nigerians in general for granted. This arrogance is demonstrated clearly and loudly by the ways and manners meetings with organized labour and outcomes of such meetings are taken with levity and disrespect.

“Beyond any reasonable doubts, the government has demonstrated high insensitivity, lack of respect and regards to organized labour and the Nigerian masses.

Therefore, it is in the light of the above that NUPENG as a responsive and responsible affiliate union of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), will fully comply with the resolution of the joint NEC meeting and we hereby direct the leaders in the four (4) Zonal Councils of our great union to mobilize all our members in the formal and informal sectors to shut down services effective 3rd October, 2023.

“All NUPENG members, including the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), Petrol Stations Workers (PSW), Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers (LPGAR) and all other allied workers in the value chain of petroleum products distribution must comply with this directive from midnight of Tuesday, 3rd October 2023,” it said.

NUPENG directed all its branches and units to ensure full compliance by setting up Compliance and Monitoring Teams in all operational locations.