SACKED MEMBERS: NUPENG THREATENS THREE-DAY STRIKE THIS FESTIVE SEASON

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has threatened to begin a three-day warning strike on January 9, 2017, against the anti-labour practice of the International Oil Companies. The South-West chairman of the union, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the warning strike was inevitable because all other options had failed. Korodo stated, “We are not gaining anything by going on strike because it is not a joyful thing but as a union, we have to protect and fight for the welfare of our members. “We have sensitised the public and also seek the intervention of the Federal Government on the anti-labour activities of the IOCs against our members but we are not getting results.

“Our members that put in their best within the time they worked were not paid their severance packages by their employers after they sacked them. This is a big slap and it will not be allowed. “What they are practising here in Nigeria, they cannot practise in their countries; so, that is why we say enough is enough.” The chairman explained that the reason for the planned warning strike was inherited from the previous administration, adding that some of the issues arose during the term of the incumbent government. “Two hundred and fifty members of our union members were affected by the divestment by Chevron Nigeria Limited in the South-East. And this is giving us a serious concern because they cannot feed their families.

“The Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, asked all parties to maintain the status-quo ante and we complied because we respect the authorities, but the IOCs seem to be above the law or more powerful than the government; they failed to maintain the status-quo ante which was amicably agreed on by both parties.”