As the warning strike of the National Union of Petroleum and
Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) entered its second day yesterday, long queues were
noticed in some parts of Lagos. Also in Abuja, long queues, which were noticed
on Monday, increased, with fuel scarcity biting harder.
This is coming at a time when NUPENG said that the strike it
embarked upon would continue until the Federal Government addresses the issues
in contention. The union also demanded that President Goodluck Jonathan sacked
his cabinet.
In Lagos, vehicular movements were impaired in Falomo,
Ikoyi; Victoria Island and Iponri as a result of long queues of motorists. The
situation was, however, normal in Surulere, Mushin, Ojota, Onipanu, Orile,
Ojuelegba, Ikeja, Oshodi and Fadeyi.
Some motorists, who spoke with Daily Sun appealed to the
Federal Government to immediately step in to address the situation before it
becomes unbearable._ At Falomo, in Ikoyi, only Oando and FO filling stations
were selling, out of the six filling stations in the area.
“Government should dialogue with relevant agencies that are
concerned because the situation is gradually getting out of hand,” said a
concerned motorist, who gave his name as Esan.
He said that he had been in queue for almost two hours,
describing the situation as a set-back to government’s transformation agenda in
the oil and gas sector.
The situation was, however, different at the Oando filling
station, Ojuelegba, where there was no long queue of vehicles.
Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, Lagos chapter, South-West Chairman of
NUPENG, explained that the union had earlier given a 14-day ultimatum to
the Federal Government to resolve their grievances.
“We were called for a stakeholder meeting today (yesterday)
in Abuja and are yet to be attended to._ Many of us came from different parts
of the country and will not expect to be provoked further by any delay to hold
the meeting to address the issues,” he said.
Korodo disclosed that the union had a meeting with the
Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu, till 1 a.m. on Tuesday._
He said that the minister had set up a committee to look
into the unfair treatment of Nigerian workers by some oil companies and some
other issues._ He said the committee included the permanent secretaries in both
the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Ministry of Labour; NUPENG and NNPC
officials.
Korodo, however, said that the three-day warning strike
would continue, until all issues raised are resolved, adding that government
should have averted it when the 14-day ultimatum was given.
Meanwhile Abuja fuel stations began drying up yesterday, as
NUPENG, PENGASSAN strike entered the second day with oil workers unions holding
in crucial meeting in Abuja.
Yesterday, fuel stations within the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja were temporarily shut, as they station did not have fuel,
Meanwhile, oil and Gas workers unions have asked President
Goodluck Jonathan to sack the Federal Executive Council members, since they
have failed in addressing labour issues and curtailing the excesses of the oil
multinationals operating in the country.
This was part of the resolutions of the joint National
Executive Council meeting of the NUPENG and Petroleum and Natural Gas
Senior Staff Association of Nigeria PENGASSAN in Abuja just, as the NUPENG
has said the strike will continue. Addressing newsmen after the meeting, NUPENG
president, Achesa Igwe and his PENGASSAN counterpart said the unions stand by
their earlier decision to continue with the indefinite strike until government
implements all issues agreed upon.
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