NUPENG threatens nationwide strike, as Kaduna protest worsens
By Sulaimon Salau
The nation may soon be thrown into another round of fuel scarcity, as the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) threatened to shutdown Nigeria if the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai continued to handle the demands of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) with levity.
NUPENG, in a statement signed by its National President Comrade Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Comrade Afolabi Olawale, said the governor is putting the lives of its member at risk.
The union said it is putting members nationwide on red alert and may at very short notice of five hours call for a nationwide industrial action if situation arises.
The statement reads in part; “NUPENG is deeply saddened with the violent turn of NLC peaceful protests by the dictatorial and despotic regime of Governor Nasir El-Rufai in Kaduna State.
The leadership of the union is therefore calling on the Federal Government to immediately call on Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to order before his arrogance and power drunk ego further push the situation into horrendous calamity as he has been doing in all issues relating to human lives and wellbeing.
Consequently, the Union reiterates that no Labour Leaders or workers as the case may be, be harmed, harassed, maimed, humiliated or victimized during this 5-day peaceful protests in the state.
Our Union is raising this alarm following the very reliable report of the clandestine move of Governor Nasir El-RUfai to hurt and put the lives of NLC President,Comrade Ayuba Wabba and other Labour Leaders to danger in his usual blind egotistical style of running government in the State
NUPENG therefore warns that if any harm is inflicted on any of the members of organized Labour, the Leadership of the Union will not hesitate to call on all our members throughout the nation for a total shut down of all our services in the upstream, mid-stream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.
In the light of the above, we are therefore putting all NUPENG members nationwide on red alert and may at very short notice of five hours call for a nationwide industrial action if situation arises.
El-Rufai had declared the NLC National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and other leaders of the union wanted over the strike action embarked upon by workers in the state.
He tweeted, “KADUNA UPDATE: Ayuba Wabba & others of @NLCHeadquarters declared wanted for economic sabotage & attacks on public infrastructure under Miscellaneous Offences Act. Anyone that knows where he is hiding should send a message to @MOJKaduna. KDSG. There will be a handsome reward!”
NLC in the state had embarked on strike to protest against mass disengagement of workers and other alleged anti-labour moves by the government.
Hoodlums had reportedly attacked the protesters with dangerous weapons, a situation that was later calmed by police intervention.
