The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, in what appears as looming fuel scarcity. NUPENG said the strike will take place at the expiration of the notice if nothing is done towards worker’s welfare and membership-related issues.

NUPENG threatens nationwide strike.

The new development was contained in a statement signed by NUPENG President, Williams Akhoreha, and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi.

The union took the decision during a special national delegates conference convened on last Thursday.

The union decision “We write to convey to the general public and all relevant government agencies the resolution of the special national delegates conference to issue a 14-day notice of a nationwide industrial action if some legitimate welfare and membership related issues that have been variously resolved in our favour even by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment are not adequately and conclusively addressed and resolved within the next 14 days.  This ultimatum takes effect from Monday, November 15, 2021.”

The union further said one of the issues is the outstanding short payment of terminal benefits and members were laid off by the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited.

“There is also the matter concerning PYRAMIDT workers, who for more than 20 years now are being moved from one labour contractor to another without conditions of service and union representation/recognition,” the union said.

It was further said that the contract workers working in Oil Mining Lease 42 of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, a subsidiary of NNPC have not been paid for 10 months.

The union also said, “Nigeria Agip Oil Company and its contractors are also owing contracts workers’ salaries and allowances for upwards of 10 months. These workers are being denied salaries and allowances on very inhuman and wicked excuses that the Contractors are yet to fulfil certain due process, yet this due process is not stopping NAOC from exploiting the skills and sweats of these Nigerians for profits while the workers and their families are wallowing in hardship and poverty.