Residents of Rivers and Bayelsa states may face scarcity of
Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol as the Nigerian Union of Petroleum
and Natural Gas Workers has ordered owners of filling stations in the two
states to shut down operations and join its ongoing strike.
The Acting Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Port
Harcourt Zone, Mr. Charles Eleto, told journalists in the Rivers State capital
that the body would not spare any filling station that failed to comply with
the shutdown order as sanctions would be meted on erring filling stations
owners.
Eleto explained that the strike action by
the NUPENG in the zone was prompted by the actions of four firms operating in
Rivers and Bayelsa states.
He said, “In lieu of NUPENG’s ongoing
strike in Rivers and Bayelsa states, all petrol station workers in these two
states are hereby informed of the strike and they should be part of it as a
solidarity. Injury to one is injury to all. In a situation where anyone is
found wanting, the union will sanction them. I know that some filling stations
have not joined the strike. That is why we are issuing this directive so that
those who have not joined should immediately shut down the sales of petroleum
products at their respective filling stations.
“The refinery has shut down, petroleum
tanker drivers have shut down; the private depots have shut down, so, they
(filling stations) should also join the strike by shutting down.”
He pleaded with governors of the two states
and security agencies to prevail on the four companies to stop the
victimisation of workers and recognise NUPENG as a union.
He said, “We gave two weeks ultimatum to
the governors of Rivers and Bayelsa states and the Federal Ministry of Labour
to call these companies to order but they have refused to do so.
“So, we are not threatened by anybody, than
to use what we have to get what we want. The companies are Hilong Engineering
Nigeria Limited, Uniterm Nigeria Limited, Specialist Drilling Fluid Nigeria
Limited and Fudro Nigeria Limited.
“If Nigerians are worried, they should call
on the companies to abide by NUPENG’s policy because what these companies are
doing is purely against any recognised labour law and we cannot tolerate it.
That’s why we are picketing Rivers and Bayelsa states.’’
Eleto, however, warned that the strike
would only be called off if the affected companies were ready to engage NUPENG
in a dialogue.
“As soon as the companies involved are
ready to dialogue, the strike would be over. We do not want Nigerians to
suffer,” he added.
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